BR  555  .C9  L5  1909 
Goodenough,  Arthur. 
The  clergy  of  Litchfield 
County 


Ci^^r^ 


ERRATA. 

Facing  page  128  for  St.   Michael's,   read  Congregational. 

Facing  page  138  for  St.    Peter's,    Plymouth,    read   St. 
Michael's,  Litchfield. 

Facing  page  152  for  Episcopal,  read  St.  Peter's. 
Page  168  read  1888,  J.  Rippere. 
Page  213  read  Cornelius  B.  Everest. 


THE  CLERGY 
OF  LITCHFIELD   COUNTY 


u 


^OCT    2  1942  ' 

THE  CLERGY    ^e/aLsE*»\*# 


OF 


LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 


BY 


ARTHUR  GOODENOUGH 


LITCHFIELD   COUNTY 

UNIVERSITY   CLUB 

MCMIX 


Copyright,  1909,  by 
Arthur   Goodenough 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I     FOUNDATIONS •    .     .  3 

II     THE   PIONEERS 10 

III  MANNERS  AND  CUSTOMS 18 

IV  AN   EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY   SERMON 29 

V  BIOGRAPHIES 39 

Rev.  Joseph  Bellamy 40 

Rev.  Azel  Backus,  D.D 42 

Rev.  John  Trumbull 43 

Father  Mills 45 

Rev.  Daniel  Farrand 48 

Rev.  Amml  Ruhamah  Robbins 5° 

Extract  from  the  Autobiography  of  a  Blind  Minister, 

Timothy  Woodbridge 53 

Rev.  Peter  Starr 55 

Rev.  Nathaniel  Roberts 5^ 

Rev.  Cotton  Mather  Smith 5^ 

Rev.  Jeremiah  Day,  D.D 61 

VI  SECOND  PERIOD-TRANSITION ^5 

VII     PERSONAL   SKETCHES 74 

Rev.   Stanley  Griswold 74 

Rev.  Alexander  Gillett 77 

vii 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

Rev.  Asahel  Hooker 80 

Rev.  Luther  Hart 81 

Rev.  Samuel  R.  Andrew 82 

Rev.  James  Beach 83 

Rev.  Chauncey  Lee,  D.D 85 

Rev.  Frederick  Marsh 88 

VIII     THIRD  PERIOD— MODERNISM 95 

IX     MORE  PERSONAL  SKETCHES 99 

Rev.  Joseph  Eldridge,  D.D 99 

Rev.  Adam  Reid,  D.D 101 

Rev.  Lavalette  Perrin,  D.D 103 

Rev.  William  Elliott  Bassett 105 

Rev.  Hiram  Eddy,  D.D 107 

X     THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH no 

Bethlehem 115 

Bridgewater 116 

Canaan 117 

East  Plymouth 118 

Harwinton 119 

Kent 120 

Lime  Rock 121 

Litchfield 121 

Marbledale 130 

New  Milford 131 

Northfield 136 

Pine  Meadow 137 

Plymouth 138 

Riverton 140 

viii 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  p^^^ 

Roxbury j>  j 

Salisbury j^2 

Sharon j^ 

Thomaston j^e 

Torrington 145 

Washington 146 

Watertown 147 

Winsted 148 

Woodbury i^p 


XI    BAPTISTS I 


5+ 


XII    THE  METHODISTS 160 

Preachers 166 

Stationed  Preachers 167 

Presiding  Elders 168 

XIII  THE  CLERGY  AS  CITIZENS 170 

XIV  THE  CLERGY  IN  LITERATURE 177 

XV    WIT  AND  HUMOR 186 

XVI     MINISTERS'  CHILDREN 195 

APPENDIX 203 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

Church  of  Christ,  Norfolk Frontispiece 

Congregational  Church,  New  Milford  .     .     .     facing  page     12 

Lyman  Beecher "              18 

CongregationalChurch,Town  Hill,  New  Hartford  "              30 

Ammi  Ruhamah  Robbins "               5° 

Horace  Bushnell 06 

Congregational  Church,  Goshen 74 

Frederick  Marsh "              88 

Joseph  Eldridge 100 

Lavalette  Perrin "            I04 

Congregational  Church,  Salisbury    ....  "             116 

St.  Michael's,  Litchfield "             128 

St.  Peter's,  Plymouth "             ^38 

Trinity,  Torrington HO 

Episcopal  Church,  Plymouth '             ^52 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Winsted  .     .     .  "            160 

Congregational  Church,  East  Canaan   ...  "             17° 

Charles  G.  Finney "             ^'^^ 

Austin  Isham ^'^ 

zl 


FOREWORD 


I  AM  chiefly  to  blame  for  this  book,  though  a  committee 
of  good  men  whose  judgment  I  respected  asked  me  to 
write  it.  I  ought  to  have  known  better,  and  have  often 
wished  that  somebody  might  express  his  opinion  of  the 
enormity  of  my  crime  in  a  way  to  do  justice  to  my  own 
sense  of  guilt.  The  things  I  have  omitted— some  of 
them  through  ignorance,  others  for  lack  of  space — 
trouble  me  more  than  what  I  have  done. 

The  inadequacy  is  more  obvious  when  I  write  of 
ministers  in  other  denominations  than  my  own,  and  it 
was  greatly  to  my  relief  that  Dr.  Storrs  O.  Seymour 
kindly  consented  to  prepare  a  chapter  on  the  Episcopal 
clergy.  No  doubt  all  readers  of  the  work  will  share  my 
gratitude  to  him. 

From  my  own  point  of  view  I  excuse  myself  in  part 
for  the  lack  of  proportion  in  treatment  by  assuming 


FOREWORD 

that  the  Congregational  ministry  was  a  part  of  the  in- 
digenous element  which  made  Litchfield  County  to  differ 
from  the  rest  of  the  world,  and  so  to  be  worthy  of 
special  mention,  while  those  of  other  name  represent 
the  invasion  of  a  cosmic  influence  that  is  making  us  like 
other  people.  I  have  received  help  and  encouragement 
from  so  many  friends  that  I  dare  not  undertake  to  name 
them  here,  though  they  have  my  sincere  gratitude. 

Arthur  Goodenough. 

Winchester,  Conn.,  March  5,  1909. 


THE  CLERGY 
OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 


CHAPTER  I 


FOUNDATIONS 


O  write  of  one  county  among  the  many 
counties  of  this  great  country  may  seem 
a  little  thing.  To  give  special  attention 
to  one  class  of  men  in  a  single  county 
may  seem  a  matter  of  still  less  impor- 
tance. When  that  county  is  the  county  of  Litchfield,  in 
Connecticut,  and  the  class  of  men  selected  comprises 
those  who  for  more  than  a  hundred  and  fifty  years  have 
been  the  pastors  of  its  churches,  the  question  has  a  new 
significance. 

Men  of  large  information  who  have  lived  outside  its 
boundaries  have  expressed  the  opinion  that  in  propor- 
tion to  its  years  of  history  and  population  this  county 

L3l 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

has  produced  more  great  men  than  any  other  part  of 
the  world.  Some  who  live  in  it  are  ready  to  acknow- 
ledge the  truth  of  this  statement.  Among  these  great 
men  the  clergy  have  always  been  leaders,  and  may 
safely  be  regarded  as  an  Important  factor  In  the  produc- 
tion or  development  of  greatness  In  others. 

The  causative  elements  In  the  distinction  of  Litchfield 
County  may  be  regarded  as  threefold— its  physical 
geography,  its  race  stock,  and  Its  time  and  place  In  the 
history  of  New  England. 

It  Is  the  "mountain  county"  of  Connecticut.  The 
scenery  furnished  by  Its  hills  and  valleys.  Its  lakes  and 
streams,  is  not  easily  surpassed.  Its  air  is  health-giving, 
and  the  physical  energy  called  out  by  struggling  with  its 
difficulties  for  the  means  of  living  has  been  naturally 
correlated  with  the  development  of  a  corresponding 
mental  and  moral  force  in  its  inhabitants. 

It  is  said  that  three  kingdoms  were  sifted  to  furnish 
their  choicest  and  best  for  the  beginnings  of  New  Eng- 
land. There  was  still  another  sifting  before  the  young- 
est and  most  vigorous  descendants  of  the  settlers  In 
Connecticut  and  New  Haven  colonies  took  possession 
of  Litchfield  County. 

It  was  comparatively  infertile  and  Inaccessible  and 
was  the  last  part  of  the  State  to  be  occupied. 

Those  who  came  brought  with  them  the  Puritan  tra- 
ditions and  customs,  modified  by  some  generations  of 

1:43 


FOUNDATIONS 

experience.  The  clergy  had  an  authority  and  leadership 
accepted  without  question  in  secular  as  well  as  religious 
affairs.  The  Congregational  ministers  and  churches 
were  as  essential  a  part  of  the  beginnings  of  New  Eng- 
land as  were  the  towns  and  the  town  meetings.  In  New 
Haven  Colony,  church  membership  was  essential  to  a 
vote  or  voice  in  town  affairs,  and  the  town  governments 
were  practically  organized  by  the  churches  under  direc- 
tion of  the  ministers.  The  southern  part  of  Litchfield 
County  was  settled  earliest,  and  its  people  were  from 
the  New  Haven  Colony.  Woodbury,  the  oldest  of 
the  Litchfield  towns,  was  settled  by  a  church  already 
organized  in  Stratford,  which  brought  its  pastor  along. 

Congregational  principles  involve  democracy,  and 
lead  to  the  recognition  of  equal  rights  for  all  men  alike 
in  religious,  political,  industrial,  and  social  relations. 
This  fact  was  not  seen  nor  accepted  by  the  Puritans 
generally,  and  they  were  for  the  most  part  thorough 
aristocrats  in  belief  and  practice.  They  belonged  to  the 
English  middle  class,  and  there  were  many  among  them 
descended  from  royalty  or  nobility. 

In  the  mother-country  pastors  and  people  alike  had 
been  members  of  the  English  Church,  and  they  brought 
with  them  their  parish  customs  and  ideals.  Their  minis- 
ters were  scholars  trained  at  the  English  universities  and 
belonging  to  the  best  English  families.  The  New 
England  people  were  accustomed  to  look  up  to  their 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

ministers  socially  as  men  of  hereditary  rank,  and  of  a 
scholarship  beyond  the  common  understanding,  as  well 
as  dignified  by  a  sacred  calling  and  a  position  of  recog- 
nized official  authority. 

The  pastors  of  the  churches  were  practically  town 
officials.  They  were  supported  by  a  town  tax,  held  a 
life  tenure  of  office,  and  had  a  special  authority  within 
town  or  parish  boundaries  on  which  others  were  for- 
bidden to  infringe.  They  superintended  the  schools, 
looked  after  the  religious  instruction  of  the  pupils,  and 
took  charge  of  neighborhood  or  family  morals  in  a 
commanding  way  now  hard  to  appreciate.  It  was  fre- 
quently the  case  that  a  town  employed  its  minister  be- 
fore a  church  was  organized,  and  it  continued  to  pay 
his  salary  when  he  had  been  ordained  as  pastor  of  the 
church.  When  once  the  church  had  been  organized 
and  its  pastor  ordained,  the  town  could  not  even  by  its 
own  vote  avoid  the  continued  payment  of  his  salary  by 
a  tax  levied  on  all  its  property-holders.  In  the  case  of 
Stephen  Heaton,  first  pastor  in  Goshen,  the  town 
brought  charges  against  him  before  the  Consociation, 
and  the  trial  lasted  six  years  before  he  was  dismissed 
from  his  office  for  cause,  and  the  town  relieved  of  his 
support.  It  is  pleasant  incidentally  to  know  that  as  a 
lay  member  of  the  church  and  community  he  was  for  the 
rest  of  his  life  prosperous  and  respected. 

When  we  are  told  that  the  Puritans  came  to  this 

en 


FOUNDATIONS 

country  to  secure  the  free  exercise  of  their  reUgion,  we 
might  naturally  infer  that  the  whole  population  would 
be  alike  religious,  and  free  to  carry  on  their  religion 
according  to  personal  taste,  but  in  both  respects  the 
inference  would  be  wrong. 

The  leaders  were  religious— most  of  them  church 
members— and  strenuous  in  maintaining  the  Christian 
life  as  they  understood  it,  but  they  were  not  zealous  for 
the  liberties  of  irreligious  people,  and  from  the  begin- 
ning there  were  many  such  among  them. 

They  were  accompanied  by  many  servants  and  re- 
tainers of  a  different  class  from  that  of  which  history 
is  accustomed  to  take  account.  "Lewd  fellows  of  the 
baser  sort"  are  occasionally  mentioned.  They  gave 
tone  to  the  court  records  and  sometimes  to  the  church 
records  of  the  early  days. 

Helen  Evertson  Smith,  in  "Colonial  Days  and 
Ways,"  tells  us  that  the  company  which  settled  Water- 
town,  Massachusetts,  brought  with  them  one  hundred 
and  eighty  servants,  whose  passage  cost  the  company 
an  average  of  something  over  eighty-three  dollars  each. 
Of  course  after  the  settlements  were  established  the  way 
was  open  for  adventurers  of  all  sorts,  who  in  any  way 
could  find  the  means  for  crossing  the  ocean,  and  they 
would  crowd  into  every  new  settlement. 

We  have  no  reason  to  think  that  in  the  days  when 
Litchfield  County  was  settled  there  was  ever  a  time 

1:73 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

when  as  large  a  proportion  of  the  population  were 
church  members  as  in  our  own  days. 

There  was  in  every  community  a  large  number  of 
"outsiders."  Some  of  them  were  intelligent,  respect- 
able, orderly,  and  well-to-do  people,  whose  sympathies 
were  with  the  pastors  and  the  churches.  There  were 
many  others  who  were  profane  and  disorderly  and  not 
lovers  of  the  dominance  maintained  by  the  churches  and 
their  ministers. 

Church  attendance  was  compulsory  on  all  the  people, 
as  school  attendance  is  now  on  children  of  school  age. 
Profanity  and  Sabbath-breaking  were  severely  punished 
by  law.  If  the  squire  and  the  parson  were  in  accord, 
they  looked  after  the  affairs  of  the  community  with  com- 
bined authority,  and  ruled,  if  so  disposed,  with  a  heavy 
hand. 

If  the  squire  differed  with  the  parson  in  politics  and 
in  social  ideals,  there  was  more  liberty  for  the  people, 
but  bitter  strife  between  parties,  and  probably  biting 
and  somewhat  personal  sermons  from  the  pulpit. 

It  was  natural  that  in  the  older  communities  there 
should  be  some  relaxation  of  religious  interest  and  of 
vigor  in  religious  observance  after  the  strenuous  life  of 
the  first  generations  had  gone  by.  The  Saybrook  Plat- 
form in  1708  had  fixed  the  creed  of  the  churches  for 
all  time,  and  established  permanent  courts  for  church 

en 


FOUNDATIONS 

government.  The  position  and  authority  of  the  pastor 
in  every  parish  was  settled  beyond  all  question. 

There  gradually  came  about  a  reversion  to  the 
old  customs  of  the  English  people,  and  in  many  com- 
munities church  membership  came  to  be  regarded  as  a 
hereditary  privilege,  or  a  right  to  which  decent  people 
had  a  natural  claim.  Right  belief  and  orderly  conduct 
were  often  emphasized  rather  than  experiential  evidence 
of  conversion  or  regeneration,  and  some  ministers  were 
inclined  to  go  back  to  the  English  Church  for  ordination 
and  authority. 

From  1735  onward  there  was  a  somewhat  violent 
awakening  from  this  condition  of  things  under  the  great 
revival  in  which  Jonathan  Edwards,  and  afterward 
younger  men  like  Joseph  Bellamy  and  others,  had  a 
prominent  part.  It  was  in  the  time  of  the  great  stress 
and  impulse  due  to  this  awakening  that  many  towns  in 
Litchfield  County  were  settled  and  many  of  Its  older 
churches  organized.  The  influence  of  the  time  empha- 
sized the  religious  motive,  quickened  and  directed  the 
religious  interests  of  these  pioneers. 


1:93 


CHAPTER  II 


THE  PIONEERS 

N  175 1,  when  Litchfield  County  was  or- 
ganized, there  were  in  its  boundaries  fif- 
teen churches  with  pastors.  Woodbury 
was  more  than  eighty  years  old,  New  Mil- 
ford  thirty-four,  and  Litchfield  twenty- 
The  other  churches  and  towns  were  new.  The 
pastors  were  all  young  men  except  in  the  one  church  of 
Woodbury.  The  churches  and  towns  were  newly  organ- 
ized, the  inhabitants  mainly  young  people  led  by  young 
pastors.  Pioneering  tests  old  customs  and  traditional 
ways  of  thinking.  The  French  and  Indian  wars  soon 
followed,  and  these  settlements  were  on  the  danger  line. 
Later  came  the  American  Revolution,  in  which  many 
from  these  towns  were  actively  engaged  and  several  of 
the  ministers  served  as  army  chaplains. 

It  was  inevitable  that  these  strenuous  days  of  out- 


THE  PIONEERS 

ward  activity  and  excitement  should  greatly  influence 
the  character  of  ministers  and  churches.  Personal 
initiative  and  responsibility  made  strong  men  and  com- 
pelled original  thinking. 

In  the  beginning  there  was  general  agreement  in 
theological  belief  among  the  accepted  religious  teachers, 
and  in  the  first  days  of  religious  innovation  the  credal 
statements  were  for  a  time  left  for  the  most  part  undis- 
puted. Yet  the  great  awakening  had  brought  about  a 
condition  of  religious  ferment  in  all  New  England,  and 
the  men  of  Litchfield  County  took  an  active  part  in  the 
readjustments  which  followed.  Whitefield  and  other 
traveling  evangelists  passed  through  and  were  followed 
by  departures  from  old  customs  and  more  or  less  of  con- 
fusion and  excitement.  Established  methods  of  parish 
work  were  in  some  cases  rudely  broken  in  upon.  There 
were  many  conversions  and  additions  to  the  churches 
from  the  classes  least  identified  with  previous  church 
membership  and  church  control,  and  religious  expres- 
sion took  on  new  forms. 

Under  the  new  impulse  young  men  frequently  were 
impelled  to  take  an  active  and  original  part  in  religious 
meetings.  Even  uneducated  people  felt  called  upon  to 
give  a  public  expression  of  their  faith  and  experience. 

As  nothing  corresponding  to  our  prayer-meetings  or 
Sunday-schools  was  then  in  existence,  it  was  difficult  for 
a  general  and  strong  religious  feeling  to  find  vent  with- 

DO 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

out  some  outburst  that  would  seem  disorderly  and 
awaken  alarm  or  prejudice. 

The  General  Association  of  Connecticut  in  1745 
passed  the  following  resolutions:  "Whereas  there  has  of 
late  years  been  many  errors  in  doctrine,  and  disorders  in 
practice,  prevailing  in  the  churches  of  this  land,  which 
seem  to  have  a  threatening  aspect  upon  these  churches; 
and  whereas  Mr.  George  Whitefield  has  been  the  pro- 
moter, or  at  least  the  faulty  occasion  of  many  of  these 
errors  and  disorders,  this  Association  think  it  needful 
for  them  to  declare  that  if  the  said  Mr.  Whitefield 
should  make  his  progress  through  this  government,  it 
would  by  no  means  be  advisable  for  any  of  our  ministers 
to  admit  him  into  their  pulpits,  or  for  any  of  our  people 
to  attend  upon  his  preaching  and  administrations." 
Notwithstanding  this  good  advice,  the  Rev.  Cotton 
Mather  Smith's  pulpit  in  Sharon  was  open  to  Whitefield, 
and  he  was  probably  welcomed  in  other  parishes  of  the 
county. 

Among  the  disorders  enumerated  by  the  ^Association 
with  disapproval  are:  "Intruding  into  other  ministers' 
parishes,  and  laymen  taking  it  upon  them  in  an  unwar- 
rantable manner  publicly  to  teach  and  exhort." 

These  untoward  acts  of  laymen  were  not  only  felt  to 
be  an  intrusion  upon  the  rights  of  ministers  and  elders, 
but  as  opening  the  door  to  false  doctrines  by  permitting 
unsafe  and  crude  thinkers  to  teach.    Jonathan  Edwards, 


Congregational  Church,  New  ]\Iilford 


THE  PIONEERS 

who  was  held  in  great  degree  responsible  for  the  new 
order  of  things,  strenuously  rebuked  the  innovations 
which  grew  out  of  the  new  religious  impulse.  Even 
wise  men  often  think  to  make  old  bottles  hold  the  new 
wine. 

Though  no  theological  change  was  immediately  ap- 
parent, the  germs  of  new  thinking  were  being  planted 
and  taking  root.  Joseph  Bellamy,  pastor  at  Bethlehem, 
had  taken  part  in  the  new  movement,  but  was  much 
disturbed  by  some  of  its  results.  He  preached  strongly 
against  the  incoming  disorder,  and  published  books  of 
wide  circulation  intended  to  promote  an  orderly  adjust- 
ment of  the  new  life  to  the  old  forms  of  belief  and 
practice.  He  was  the  great  man  of  his  day,  and  consti- 
tuted in  himself  the  first  theological  seminary  in  our  land. 

It  was  largely  through  Bellamy  that  Litchfield 
County  became  at  once  the  center  of  the  strongest  Cal- 
vinistic  thinking  of  that  age,  if  not  of  all  the  ages.  In 
his  plan  this  thinking  was  systematically  coordinated 
with  evangelistic  work  and  an  earnest  belief  in  revivals 
and  revival  methods.  It  was  this  fact  that  brought  the 
philosophy  of  medieval  times  face  to  face  with  the 
deep  practical  problems  of  life,  in  a  way  that  led  to 
some  inward  conflicts,  such  as  the  world  has  never  seen 
exceeded.  New  England  theology  for  the  next  hundred 
years  was  to  be  a  war  of  giants,  and  the  men  of  Litch- 
field County  were  to  be  largely  the  accepted  leaders. 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

Many,  though  not  all,  of  the  churches  and  pastors  in 
this  county  were  in  sympathy  with  the  greater  strenu- 
ousness  of  religious  life  which  had  come  in.  They 
insisted  on  more  rigid  rules  for  the  acceptance  and  con- 
duct of  church  members,  and  so  became  involved  in 
church  trials  and  divisions.  Frequent  dissatisfaction 
and  opposition  was  aroused  in  men  who  wished  church 
privileges  on  easy  terms. 

When  the  pastor  and  majority  of  the  church  held  to 
the  more  lax  and  conservative  methods  of  the  earlier 
time,  there  was  denunciation  on  the  part  of  the  new 
converts,  who  were  no  longer  willing  to  sit  under  the 
preaching  of  "unconverted  ministers,"  and  sought  for 
relief  when  possible  in  some  new  organization. 

The  difficulty  in  organizing  a  new  Congregational 
Church  was  especially  great.  The  law  of  the  State  al- 
ready permitted  Episcopalians  and  Baptists  to  maintain 
churches  of  their  own,  and  escape  taxation  for  support 
of  the  Standing  Order.  Those  who  wished  to  establish 
a  separate  Congregational  Church  had  still  to  pay  their 
taxes  to  the  older  organization  until  they  could  be  re- 
lieved by  special  act  of  the  Legislature,  which  could  not 
easily  be  obtained.  A  separate  church  was  organized 
in  Canaan,  which  for  a  time  had  more  than  one  hundred 
members,  and  which  moved  as  a  whole  to  Stillwater, 
New  York. 

Some    relief    could    be    found    where    neighboring 


THE  PIONEERS 

parishes  adopted  different  methods.  As,  for  instance, 
Torrington  followed  the  Half-way  Covenant,  while 
Winchester,  a  contiguous  parish,  held  to  the  most 
rigorous  requirements  of  church  membership,  and  only 
the  children  of  those  in  full  connection  were  baptized. 
In  such  case  trouble  was  liable  to  arise  because  the 
stricter  church  would  not  receive  members  by  letter 
from  the  other  without  a  personal  examination  in  regard 
to  the  religious  experience. 

The  first  pastor  in  Salisbury,  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Lee, 
was  ordained  on  the  basis  of  the  Cambridge  Platform, 
and  ministers  who  took  part  in  the  ordination  were  cen- 
sured by  the  association  to  which  they  belonged. 
Though  all  were  supposed  to  hold  by  the  same  orthodox 
creed,  there  was  a  good  deal  in  those  days  to  prevent 
pastors  from  settling  down  into  a  monotonous  condition 
of  quiet  and  undisputed  authority. 

Circumstances  were  favorable  to  the  invasion  of 
religious  organizations  opposed  by  the  Standing  Order. 
Episcopal  and  Baptist  missionaries  entered  the  field, 
socially  and  religiously  speaking,  from  opposite  sides. 
As  we  before  observed,  the  drift  of  conservative  men 
in  the  older  communities  had  been  naturally  toward  the 
ways  of  the  English  churches.  Some  ministers  of  stand- 
ing and  influence  felt  that  safety  lay  in  that  direction, 
and  that  it  would  be  wise  to  secure  ordination  from 
English  bishops  and  return  to  a  full  connection  with  the 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

churches  of  the  mother-country.  The  churches  gener- 
ally resented  this  movement  with  energetic  decision  as 
soon  as  they  comprehended  the  meaning  of  it,  but  there 
continued  to  be  men  of  prominence  who  sought  relief 
from  the  rigid  Calvinism  of  the  preaching  to  which  they 
were  compelled  to  listen,  and  what  seemed  to  them  the 
inroads  of  a  dangerous  fanaticism,  by  turning  back  to 
the  English  communion. 

The  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in 
Foreign  Parts  sent  its  missionaries  into  New  England, 
and  under  the  auspices  of  this  society  parishes  were 
established  in  Woodbury,  New  Milford,  Litchfield, 
Plymouth,  and  other  places  in  Litchfield  County.  The 
War  of  the  Revolution  was  unfavorable  to  their  pro- 
gress, as  they  were  supposed  to  stand  for  England 
politically  as  well  as  religiously,  and  the  patriotism  of 
the  vast  majority  was  intense. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  Baptists  met  the  wants  of  the 
new  converts  who  wished  to  introduce  and  maintain  a 
more  emotional  type  of  piety  and  to  protest  against  the 
dominance  of  the  governing  class  in  the  churches,  and 
what  was  supposed  to  be  their  respectable  worldliness. 

The  Baptist  missionaries  of  the  eighteenth  century 
were  uneducated  men  of  large  enthusiasms,  who  traveled 
through  the  towns  gathering  congregations  in  private 
homes  and  urging  men  to  a  new  life  by  unconventional 
methods.     When  in   1798  Stephen  Smith  Nelson  was 


THE  PIONEERS 

ordained  as  the  first  pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  Church 
in  Hartford,  we  are  told  in  Sprague's  "Annals"  that  he 
was  the  only  Baptist  minister  in  Connecticut  with  a  col- 
legiate education. 

Many    small    Baptist    churches    were    organized    in 
Litchfield  County  near  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury or  in  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth,  which  in  the 
next  generation  gave  way  to  the  Methodists,    We  occa- 
sionally stumble  on  the  foundations  where  were  for- 
merly their  houses  of  worship.    They  had  a  mission  of 
importance  in  their  time,  and  their  influence  lives  on  in 
other  churches,  or,  it  may  be,  in  far-off  communities. 
There  are  still  churches  of  other  names  which  might 
well  die  for  the  good  of  the  cause  which  they  represent, 
and  which  yet  have  done  good  work  for  God  in  their 
place  and  time.    A  few  of  these  early  Baptist  churches, 
like  the  two  in  Colebrook,  have  continued  until  this  day. 
The  theology  of  the  preachers  of  this  denomination 
was  Calvinistic  and  did  not  for  the  most  part  contradict 
that  preached  in  the  Congregational  churches.     They 
were  contending  rather  for  the  rights  of  the  common 
people  to  a  larger  participation  in  worship,  and  to  a 
kind  of  preaching  and  teaching  more  on  a  level  with 
their  tastes  and  practical  needs.     The  preaching  of  the 
old-time  Congregationalist  demanded  study  and  think- 
ing, and  sometimes  put  a  strain  on  the  minds  of  hearers 
that  could  not  be  patiently  borne. 


CHAPTER  III 


MANNERS  AND  CUSTOMS 

WOULD  like,  SO  far  as  my  own  limited 
knowledge  and  descriptive  powers  per- 
mit, to  bring  before  my  readers  in  some 
detail  the  customary  life  and  work  of  a 
Litchfield  County  pastor  of  the  eigh- 
teenth century.  Of  course  the  distinctive  work  of  every 
minister  was  preaching.  Congregations  were  accus- 
tomed to  expect  and  require  two  sermons  on  each  Sun- 
day. They  were  preached  forenoon  and  afternoon, 
with  a  recess  at  the  noon  hour  for  visiting  and  luncheon. 
As  there  were  no  fires  in  the  churches  in  winter,  a  recess 
at  that  season  was  also  desirable  to  permit  women  and 
children  to  warm  themselves  at  a  neighbor's  or  in  the 
Sabbath  Day  House  near  by. 

There  were  no  evening  meetings,  no  prayer-meetings, 
no  Sunday-schools,  except  that,  we  are  told,  Dr.  Bellamy 


Lyman  Beecher 


MANNERS  AND  CUSTOMS 

had  a  Bible  class  In  Bethlehem.  There  were  sermons  on 
Fast  and  Thanksgiving  days,  and  a  lecture  on  the  Fri- 
day afternoon  before  the  Communion.  Near  the  begin- 
ning of  the  nineteenth  century  some  ministers  took  to 
holding  weekly  lectures  on  Friday  afternoon,  at  which 
neighboring  pastors  were  frequently  called  to  partici- 
pate. In  times  of  revival  more  frequent  week-day  ser- 
vices were  held.  At  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth 
century  we  find  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher  holding  evening 
meetings  each  week  in  different  parts  of  his  large  parish 
in  Litchfield.  About  the  same  time  there  were  neigh- 
borhood prayer-meetings  started  in  Winchester,  which 
the  Rev.  Thomas  Robbins,  preaching  in  that  parish  in 
1806,  speaks  of  attending.  There  may  have  been  other 
cases  of  neighborhood  preaching  or  prayer-meetings 
still  earlier,  but  I  have  found  no  evidence  of  them. 

The  Rev.  Amml  Ruhamah  Robbins  of  Norfolk  had 
a  record  of  about  sixty-five  hundred  sermons  in  a  pas- 
torate of  fifty-two  years,  which  implies  more  than  an 
average  of  two  sermons  a  week;  but  as  he  had  been 
chaplain  in  the  army,  and  missionary  at  different  times 
in  the  new  settlements  where  preaching  came  in  every 
day,  and  would  have  frequent  occasions  at  ordinations 
and  meetings  of  consociation  outside,  more  than  the  two 
sermons  a  week  may  not  be  implied  In  ordinary  service. 

There  have  come  down  to  us  reports  as  to  the  length 
of  these  sermons  which  I  have  no  doubt  are  exaggerated. 

1:19:1 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

Statements  are  sometimes  made  that  sermons  were  two 
hours  long,  and  the  long  prayer  an  hour.  I  think  the 
people  who  tell  these  things  did  not  carry  watches,  and 
clocks  were  not  then  used  in  the  churches„  Undoubt- 
edly much  less  time  in  those  days  was  given  to  other 
parts  of  public  service  than  is  customary  for  us,  and 
more  time  was  left  for  prayers  and  sermons. 

In  making  our  estimate  I  think  it  fair  to  suppose  that 
sermons  preached  on  great  occasions  and  important 
enough  to  be  published  would  be  longer  than  the 
average.  Dr.  Bellamy  preached  a  sermon  before  the 
Consociation  of  Litchfield  County,  at  Goshen,  May  30, 
1753,  which  contains  about  fourteen  thousand  words 
and  would  very  likely  require  more  than  an  hour  and 
a  half  in  the  delivery,  but  it  was  an  exceptional  sermon, 
showing  that  he  felt  it  to  be  a  great  occasion  and  had 
a  great  respect  for  his  audience.  It  was  probably  a 
similar  appreciation  of  what  was  required  that  led  the 
late  Dr.  Adam  Reid  of  Salisbury  to  decline  an  invitation 
to  preach  before  the  Litchfield  North  Association  on 
the  ground  that  he  "felt  unable  to  prepare  anything 
worthy  the  attention  of  that  august  body."  Dr.  Bel- 
lamy's other  published  sermons  do  not  usually  exceed 
eight  thousand  or  nine  thousand  words,  and  would  come 
inside  the  hour. 

Published  sermons  from  popular  preachers  like  Dr. 
Asahel  Hooker,  Father  Mills  of  Torringford,  or  Jere- 


MANNERS  AND  CUSTOMS 

miah  Day  of  New  Preston,  would  have  been  delivered 
in  from  thirty  to  forty-five  minutes.  I  suppose  the 
usual  method  of  preaching  was  from  quite  elaborate 
skeleton  outlines,  and  in  extempore  expression  would 
take  more  time  for  delivery  than  if  fully  written  out 
and  read,  but  I  do  not  believe  any  preacher  was  accus- 
tomed to  preach  more  than  an  hour  at  any  time  before 
his  usual  congregation. 

As  to  the  matter  and  form  of  sermons  there  is  a 
good  deal  of  sameness  among  those  which  have  been 
handed  down  to  us,  but  of  course  they  were  the  show 
sermons,  and  I  take  for  granted  that  there  were  others 
presenting  more  variety  and  originality  both  in  theme 
and  construction. 

There  was  usually  an  exposition  of  the  text,  a  logical 
and  in  some  cases  a  quite  ingenious  departure  from  it  to 
prove  one  or  all  of  the  five  points  of  Calvinism,  fol- 
lowed by  a  review  and  a  personal  application  to  the 
different  classes  of  hearers.  Whatever  the  beginning, 
it  usually  led  up  to  the  terrors  of  hell  and  closed  with  a 
solemn  warning. 

We  have  reason  to  believe  that,  besides  these  elab- 
orate discourses,  there  were  actually  many  of  a  lighter 
and  more  practical  character,  dealing  with  the  affairs  of 
common  life  in  an  effective  way.  We  know  that  ser- 
mons were  frequently  preached  handling  public  affairs 
in  the  style   of  the   Old  Testament  prophets,   giving 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

political  advice  or  rebuking  disorder  and  immorality  in 
the  community. 

In  the  War  of  the  Revolution  the  progress  of  events 
gave  tone  to  the  praying  and  preaching  in  many  pulpits. 
The  Rev.  Stanley  Griswold,  a  native  of  Torringford, 
and  pastor  in  New  Milford  from  1790  to  1802,  not 
only  made  a  specialty  of  politics,  but  led  the  way  in  a 
general  secularizing  of  religion,  which  brought  not  only 
himself  but  his  church  into  trouble.  The  writer  has  a 
sermon  preached  by  him  March  11,  1801,  after  the 
election  of  Thomas  Jefferson  to  the  Presidency  and 
Aaron  Burr  to  the  Vice-Presidency  of  the  United  States. 
He  had  voted  for  the  successful  candidates  and  urged 
others  in  his  party  not  to  take  undue  advantage  of  their 
victory,  but  to  work  for  peace,  and  only  revenge  them- 
selves by  kindness  for  the  unmerited  abuse  which  had 
been  heaped  upon  them  in  New  England.  He  was  dis- 
missed from  his  pastorate  the  following  year,  and  soon 
gave  himself  wholly  to  a  political  life,  becoming  a 
United  States  Senator  from  Ohio.  The  trouble  with 
him  was  not  that  he  meddled  with  politics,  but  that  he 
was  on  the  wrong  side  of  politics  and  opposed  to  the 
party  to  which  ministers  and  leading  church  members 
were  expected  to  belong. 

From  the  earliest  times  ministers  considered  sermons 
on  all  public  and  social  questions  to  be  in  the  line  of  their 
plain  duty,  and  no  apologies  were  needed  for  instruct- 


MANNERS  AND  CUSTOMS 

ing  their  people  in  all  matters  relating  to  government 
and  good  order.  Not  only  was  obedience  to  law  and 
authority  inculcated,  with  due  reverence  to  superiors, 
but  the  duties  of  legislators  and  officers  of  the  law  were 
proclaimed  on  the  basis  of  an  authority  above  that  of 
kings  and  governors.  Sermons  were  preached  before 
the  Governor  and  Legislature  laying  down  the  right 
principles  for  their  guidance. 

In  Mrs.  Stowe's  book  on  "Poganuc  People,"  she  men- 
tions the  sermons  in  the  parsonage  garret,  prominent 
among  which  was  "An  Appeal  on  the  Unlawfulness  of 
a  Man's  Marrying  his  Wife's  Sister."  "Then  there 
were  Thanksgiving  sermons;  Fast  Day  sermons;  ser- 
mons that  discoursed  on  the  battle  of  Culloden;  on  the 
character  of  Frederick  the  Great ;  a  sermon  on  the  death 
of  George  the  Second."  This  might  only  indicate  that 
Dr.  Lyman  Beecher  was  the  leader  in  a  new  order  of 
preaching  and  thinking,  which  was  no  doubt  true,  but 
we  have  reason  to  think  that  the  earlier  preachers  also 
dealt  with  a  similar  range  of  subjects  in  a  more  re- 
stricted way. 

Besides  preaching,  pastoral  visiting  in  case  of  sickness 
or  special  need  was  expected,  but  general  or  systematic 
visiting  of  all  the  parish  was  not  regarded  as  essential 
as  it  came  to  be  in  later  times  In  some  parishes. 

The  oversight  of  the  schools  and  a  frequent  examina- 
tion of  the  pupils  on  Saturday  afternoons  in  regard  to 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

their  knowledge  of  the  catechism  was  recognized  as  the 
duty  of  every  pastor.  Ministers  at  their  ordination 
were  usually  given  what  was  called  a  settlement,  a  lump 
sum  paid  in  advance  to  enable  the  pastor  to  own  a 
house  and  farm.  Hence  he  was  expected  to  be  a  farmer, 
whose  land  was  tilled  mainly  by  servants  under  his  over- 
sight, or  that  of  his  wife  if  she  were  better  fitted  for  the 
management  of  worldly  affairs  than  her  husband,  as 
was  sometimes  the  case.  The  ideal  pastor  might,  like 
Jonathan  Edwards,  be  so  wholly  absorbed  in  heavenly 
contemplation  or  theological  study  that  he  hardly  took 
note  of  what  was  going  on  in  the  world  about  him,  and 
might  forget  to  recognize  his  own  children,  not  to  say 
his  own  cows.  In  that  case  it  was  well  for  "the  madam'* 
to  be  a  person  of  good  business  capacity  who  would  see 
that  the  temporal  affairs  were  wisely  looked  after,  for 
the  most  spiritual  of  men  needs  to  eat  sometimes. 

It  was  not,  however,  unusual  for  the  pastor  himself  to 
be  a  man  of  common  sense  who  walked  on  the  ground 
and  was  able  to  do  business  with  other  men.  Slaves  or 
hired  servants  were  usually  a  part  of  the  minister's 
family  and  were  used  with  profit. 

Many  of  the  early  ministers  in  Litchfield  County 
were  teachers  of  young  men  preparing  for  college  or  a 
professional  life.  Frequently  there  would  be  several 
students  boarding  in  the  family.  Those  were  days  of 
large  houses  and  large  families. 


MANNERS  AND  CUSTOMS 

A  sketch  of  the  household  of  the  Rev.  Cotton  Mather 
Smith,  pastor  in  Sharon,  implies  that  the  mistress  of  the 
manse  was  habitually  responsible  for  more  than  twenty 
persons.  Similar  conditions  are  suggested  in  regard  to 
Dr.  Bellamy  in  Bethlehem,  Dr.  Asahel  Hooker  of 
Goshen,  Robbins  of  Norfolk,  Farrand  of  Canaan,  Par- 
ker of  Ellsworth,  and  others.  Not  all  pastors  lived  on 
so  large  a  scale,  but  being  for  the  most  part  the  man  of 
largest  education  and  influence  in  the  community,  he 
was  expected  to  live  as  an  example  to  other  men  of  high 
standing. 

Business  abilities  of  a  high  order  were  needed,  and  a 
good  deal  besides  books  and  theology  came  in  the  way 
of  the  eighteenth-century  clergy.  The  first  pastor  in 
Roxbury,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Canfield,  left  an  estate  in- 
ventoried at  more  than  three  thousand  pounds,  while  the 
total  amount  received  from  his  parish  as  settlement  and 
salary  for  a  pastorate  of  fifty-one  years  was  only  about 
two  thousand  pounds.  His  property  was  accumulated 
by  good  business  management  of  household  and  farm. 
He  was  a  successful  dealer  in  real  estate,  and  left  several 
good  farms  to  his  children.  Small  salaries  were  every- 
where a  necessity  in  those  days,  but  there  are  sometimes 
other  ways  of  getting  on. 

I  suppose  ministers  in  those  days  had,  as  now,  their 
Individual  methods  of  studying  and  preparing  sermons, 
and  preached  according  to  their  gifts  and  habits.    I  find 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

a  statement  of  the  method  of  Jacob  Catlin,  born  in 
Harwinton,  and  pastor  in  New  Marlboro,  Massachu- 
setts, which  I  think  was  regarded  by  the  ministers  in 
this  vicinity  as  ideal.  In  the  noon  recess  on  Sunday  he 
talked  with  his  people  and  gathered  from  them  themes 
and  texts  which  they  would  like  to  have  preached  upon. 
On  Monday  morning  he  went  into  his  study,  folded 
paper  for  two  sermons,  and  wrote  a  text  at  the  head  of 
each.  He  then  attended  to  his  farm  forenoons,  and 
gave  his  afternoons  to  visiting  the  sick,  looking  after  the 
schools,  giving  lectures,  or  doing  other  outside  work, 
allowing  the  sermon  themes  to  simmer  in  his  mind. 
On  Friday  morning  he  went  into  his  study  and  wrote 
all  day  on  his  first  sermon,  finishing  it  up  at  a  white  heat. 
On  Saturday  he  did  the  same  thing  with  the  second 
sermon. 

Ministers'  libraries  were  not  large  in  those  days.  A 
few  books,  thoroughly  read  and  re-read,  furnished  mate- 
rial for  a  good  deal  of  thinking,  even  if  it  were  neces- 
sarily within  a  narrow  range.  Probably  as  wholesome 
thinking  can  be  done  in  the  field  or  on  horseback  as  in 
the  study.  The  few  books  needed  for  a  working  library 
would  vary,  then  as  now,  according  to  taste.  When, 
after  the  death  of  Dr.  Bellamy,  his  library  was  offered 
for  sale,  and  some  came  from  a  great  distance  to  pur- 
chase, they  were  surprised  to  find  it  consist  mainly  of  a 
collection  of  infidel  works,  which  he  owned  for  the  sake 


MANNERS  AND  CUSTOMS 

of  controverting  them.  I  once  felt  a  similar  surprise 
when,  supplying  for  a  popular  minister  in  this  same 
Litchfield  County,  I  found  in  his  library  no  theological 
works  but  the  Bible  and  Hodge  on  Romans,  by  the  side 
of  Hoyle's  "Games"  and  some  works  on  hunting  and 
fishing.  The  aforesaid  minister  was  not  very  long  a 
Litchfield  County  pastor,  but  while  reading  does  help 
one's  thinking  in  various  ways,  the  amount  or  kind  of 
reading  we  do  by  no  means  furnishes  a  measure  of  our 
thinking. 

Some  individual  pastors  may  in  this  later  time  have 
found  out  the  way  to  indulge  in  lazy  habits.  Some  were 
accused  of  it  even  in  those  good  old  days,  but  I  don't 
think  laziness  could  have  become  very  general  among 
them.  The  Rev.  Ralph  Emerson,  D.D.,  when  he  be- 
came pastor  at  Norfolk  in  1816,  did  not  expect  an  easy 
life.  He  said:  "The  preacher  has  before  him  a  life  of 
ceaseless  toil,  and  that  of  the  most  exhausting  kind.  .  .  . 
The  composition  and  delivery  of  sermons  is  what  wears 
out  the  life  of  a  minister.  The  strong  tone  of  feeling 
requisite  for  this  purpose,  joined  with  the  attendant 
anxiety  and  effort  of  mind,  shatters  the  nerves  and  ruins 
the  health.  His  labor  is  not  only  more  exhausting,  but 
is  of  longer  continuance,  than  the  employment  of  other 
men.  The  toils  of  the  body  end  with  the  setting  sun. 
It  is  not  so  with  the  mental  effort  of  the  preacher. 
While  his  parishioners  are  relaxing  from  their  labors, 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

his  mind  is  at  its  work;  and  often,  while  they  are  reclin- 
ing in  soft  slumbers  of  midnight,  he  is  at  the  lamp,  with 
pained  head  and  aching  heart,  pondering  what  truths 
may  rouse  them  from  the  slumbers  of  spiritual  death. 
...  In  fact,  his  spirit  knows  neither  rest  nor  end  in  its 
labors.  .  .  .  The  Sabbath,  ordained  by  heaven  as  a  day 
of  rest  to  man  and  beast,  is  a  day  of  painful  and  haz- 
ardous exertion  to  the  preacher.  It  calls  him  to  an  effort 
which  has  cost  many  a  life."  However  true  this  was  to 
Dr.  Emerson,  I  do  not  believe  it  has  been  true  of  all  or 
most  ministers.  The  Christian  faith  has  enabled  many 
of  them  to  throw  off  anxiety  and  rest  at  the  end  of  a 
day's  work,  and  the  average  life  of  the  clergy  has  been 
longer  than  that  of  their  parishioners.  They  have  had 
plenty  of  work  and  great  responsibilities,  but  have  not 
needed  pity. 


t^^i 


CHAPTER  IV 


AN  EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY  SERMON 

E  could  hardly  get  an  adequate  concep- 
tion of  the  ministers  of  the  first  half- 
century  in  Litchfield  County  without  a 
sermon  of  their  times.  To  print  one  of 
their  sermons  verbatim  would  be  easy, 
but  it  has  occurred  to  me  that  it  would  be  better  if  a 
shorter  sermon  could  be  made  to  suggest  all  the  doc- 
trines most  emphasized  and  universally  accepted  by 
them.  I  have  ventured  to  condense  and  combine  two 
sermons,  one  by  Dr.  Bellamy,  the  other  by  Asahel 
Hooker  of  Goshen,  putting  the  introduction  in  my  own 
language,  but  holding  to  their  thought.  In  this  way 
some  violence  is  done  to  the  unity  of  the  discourse,  but 
I  hope  that  the  most  usual  subject-matter  of  the  preach- 
ing is  fairly  presented  in  one  third  the  space  required 
for  a  complete  sermon  in  those  days. 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

Dr.  Hooker  was  a  disciple  of  Dr.  Bellamy  and  the 
leading  teacher  of  theology  in  this  county  and  perhaps 
in  New  England  after  Dr.  Bellamy  had  ceased  from  his 
labors.  I  think  he  believed  himself  to  agree  thoroughly 
with  what  the  older  man  had  taught,  but  he  sought 
newer  methods  of  presentation,  and  opened  the  way  for 
the  controversy  between  the  New  Haven  theology  and 
the  East  Windsor  theology,  which  followed  in  the  next 
generation  between  men  who  had  been  under  his  teach- 
ing. 

Text,  Romans  ix.  i6:  "So  then  it  is  not  of  him  that 
willeth,  nor  of  him  that  runneth,  but  of  God  that 
showeth  mercy." 

We,  looking  at  things  great  or  small  from  the  stand- 
point of  our  own  narrow  lives,  may  seem  to  have  some 
great  efficiency  or  importance  in  ourselves  or  in  our  cir- 
cumstances. In  fact,  there  is  just  one  great  reality,  God. 
All  else  is  but  the  fringe  of  his  seamless  garment.  The 
kingdom  and  the  power  and  the  glory  are  his  alone. 

In  the  unmeasured  ages  before  the  worlds  were  made 
he  alone  had  being.  He  was  absolutely  perfect  and  suffi- 
cient in  himself.  He  had  no  need  of  the  worlds  or  of 
companionship.  It  seemed  good  to  him  to  create  worlds, 
and  to  bring  into  being  spiritual  and  personal  existences 
with  whom  he  could  have  fellowship.  He  did  this  with 
perfect  knowledge  in  minutest  detail  of  all  that  should 
follow  as  his  worlds  rolled  onward  and  the  experience  of 

[30] 


Congregational  Church,  Town  Hill,  New  Hartford 


AN  EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY  SERMON 

his  living  beings  became  history.  In  perfect  righteous- 
ness and  wisdom  he  planned  and  executed.  His  universe 
has  been,  is,  and  ever  shall  be  the  best  possible  expres- 
sion to  finite  intelligence  of  his  infinite  perfection.  In 
our  time  and  place  we  get  but  a  passing  glimpse  of  the 
dust  of  his  chariot-wheels,  yet  this  is  sufficient  to  bring 
us  face  to  face  with  what  is  to  us  a  great  problem,  the 
fact  of  sin  and  its  consequences. 

We  are  taught  by  God  himself  that  every  sin  is 
detestable,  utterly  and  forever  to  be  condemned,  the 
abominable  thing  which  he  hates.  Holy  angels  in 
heaven  sinned  and  were  hurled  forever  from  their  seats 
of  power  and  privilege,  cast  into  chains  of  darkness  and 
everlasting  torment.  Man,  created  holy,  was  seduced 
into  sin,  and  rests  under  a  like  eternal  condemnation,  but 
not  without  hope.  Why  sin  was  permitted  in  the  world 
we  do  not  know.  We  may  be  sure  that  God  could  have 
prevented  it,  and  could  have  preserved  all  beings  in  a 
state  of  perfect  holiness  and  happiness  with  perfect 
ease  if  he  had  seen  it  best.  He  chose  a  world  with 
sin  in  it  and  had  an  absolute  unquestionable  right  to  do 
so.  None  the  less  he  is  in  no  wise  to  blame  for  the  sin. 
It  is  the  free  act  of  his  free  and  responsible  creatures, 
and  they  alone  are  rightly  condemned  and  eternally 
punished  for  it,  punished  by  helpless  and  endless  tor- 
ment, beyond  all  our  present  conception  of  misery. 

"All  the  sin  and  misery  that  has  or  ever  will  take 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

place  in  the  system  through  eternal  ages,  even  the  whole, 
lay  open  full  and  plain  to  the  divine  view,  before  God 
created  the  world ;  and  he  had  as  full,  perfect,  and  lively 
apprehension  of  it,  before  he  began  to  create,  as  he  ever 
will  have  to  eternal  ages."  "If  God  had  pleased,  he 
could  have  hindered  the  existence  of  sin,  and  caused 
misery  to  have  been  forever  unknown  in  his  dominions 
with  as  much  ease  as  to  have  suffered  things  to  take  their 
present  course."  "God  .  .  .  did  deliberately  forbear 
to  interpose  effectually  to  hinder  the  introduction  of  sin 
into  his  world,  when  he  could  have  hindered  it  as  easily 
as  not."  "Angels  and  men  were  under  the  greatest 
obligation  to  love  and  obey  God,  and  were  left  to  their 
own  free  choice ;  and  God  was  not  obliged,  in  point  of 
justice,  to  do  any  more  for  them  than  he  did.  The 
whole  blame  lies  at  the  creature's  door,  and  God  is  right- 
eous in  punishing  his  sin  in  creatures,  according  to  the 
declaration  of  his  Word."     (B.) 

The  condemnation  of  mankind  as  a  whole  for  the  sin 
of  the  first  man  made  the  foreshadowing  of  a  general 
redemption  through  another  chosen  representative  of 
the  race.  "As  in  Adam  all  die,  so  in  Christ  shall  all  be 
made  alive."  All,  in  the  latter  case,  meaning  all  who  by 
the  election  of  God  and  their  own  acceptance  of  his  grace 
are  joined  to  Christ  as  their  representative.  "Fallen 
men  are  capable,  if  disposed,  of  accepting  the  great  sal- 
vation."    "The  gospel  makes  a  free  offer  of  eternal 


AN  EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY  SERMON 

mercy  to  all  who  hear  it— addressed  to  beings  fully 
capable,  if  well  disposed,  of  accepting  it."  Not  one 
man  who  has  ever  lived,  or  ever  will  live,  has  been  or 
ever  will  be  disposed  to  accept,  except  by  the  special  act 
of  God.  "Unless  he  who  hath  mercy  compel  them  to 
come  in,  they  will  neither  be  guests  at  the  wedding,  nor 
taste  of  his  supper.  Hence  the  necessity  of  a  merciful 
divine  influence  to  apply  the  Christian  redemption  to 
the  souls  of  men."  "The  salvation  of  men  is  of  God, 
from  the  origin  to  the  consummation."  "Wicked  men 
are  free  and  accountable  in  all  their  evil  deeds.  .  .  . 
That  believers  are  saved  by  the  distinguishing  grace  of 
God  does  in  no  measure  Infringe  their  liberty  of  moral 
action.  Nor  does  it  lessen  in  any  degree  the  propriety 
of  their  being  punished  for  every  deviation  from  moral 
rectitude."  "Its  being  of  God,  that  some  of  mankind 
were  from  the  beginning  predestinated  unto  the  adop- 
tion of  children  by  Jesus  Christ,  and  in  due  time  are 
called  by  his  grace,  is  no  infringement  of  other  men's 
liberty  of  doing  as  they  choose ;  nor  hence  can  it  dimin- 
ish the  fitness  of  their  being  strictly  accountable.  Ac- 
cordingly, they  are  justly  condemned  already  because 
they  will  not  come  to  Christ  for  life,  nor  have  him  to 
reign  over  them  as  their  Prince  and  Saviour." 

"The  moral  liberty  of  some  men  cannot  be  infringed, 
or  at  all  lessened,  by  the  grace  which,  without  affecting 
them   directly   or   Indirectly,   captivates   others   to   the 

D33 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

obedience  of  Christ.  Their  case  is  just  what  it  would 
have  been  had  those  who  are  now  saved  been  left  to 
perish." 

"God  may  be  sincerely  benevolent  in  offering  that  to 
men  which  it  would  not  be  for  his  glory  and  the  happi- 
ness of  his  kingdom,  and  consequently  not  consistent 
with  infinite  rectitude,  to  impose  on  them,  making  them 
willing  to  receive  it  if  otherwise  unwilling.  Punishing 
them  would  evidently  be  doing  them  personal  justice." 

"It  is  in  every  view  consistent  and  most  desirable  that 
God  should  distinguish  such  number  and  persons  of 
mankind  by  his  saving  mercy  as  he  pleases  rather  than 
that  all  should  be  lost,  as  they  would  have  been  other- 
wise notwithstanding  the  coming  of  Christ  and  the  offer 
of  salvation.  Hence  it  is  equally  so  that  the  whole 
should  have  been  rendered  certain  and  inevitable  by 
divine  decree  before  the  world  began.  Thus  the  doc- 
trine of  election  as  maintained  by  the  Holy  Scriptures 
is  most  benevolent,  consistent,  and  free  from  reasonable 
objection."     (H.) 

REMARKS 

I.  "How  amazing  is  the  patience  of  God  toward  a 
rebellious,  guilty  world !  And  how  astonishing  the 
divine  goodness,  which  sends  rain  and  fruitful  seasons, 


AN  EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY  SERMON 

filling  their  hearts  with  food  and  gladness;  when  hell  is 
their  proper  place,  and  the  pains  of  the  damned  their 
just  desert!  God  looks  down  from  heaven  upon  the 
children  of  men  and  beholds  the  work  of  his  hands 
combined  in  rebellion  against  him,  their  rightful  sover- 
eign ;  contemning  his  nature  and  will,  despising  his  law 
and  authority,  and  of  a  temper  bad  enough  to  dethrone 
him  and  overturn  his  universal  government  had  they 
sufficient  power  on  their  side."  "He  has  an  adequate 
idea  of  the  infinite  vileness,  yet  he  stays  his  hand  and 
feeds  and  clothes  the  wretches  that  affront  him  to  his 
face." 

"It  is  in  Scripture  attributed  to  the  greatness  of  God's 
power  that  he  is  able  to  contain  himself  and  to  keep 
back  his  hand  from  destroying  the  God-provoking 
sinner  immediately.  And  had  he  not  a  strength  and 
fortitude  of  mind  infinitely  great,  it  would  doubtless  be 
beyond  him  to  bear  with  mankind  a  minute  longer. 
Such  infinite  provocations  would  be  too  much  for  any 
but  an  infinite  patience." 

11.  "How  dreadful  will  the  day  of  wrath  be  and 
how  miserable  the  state  of  the  obstinate  sinner  when 
God's  patience  shall  be  at  an  end  and  his  hand  shall 
take  hold  on  vengeance  and  render  a  recompense  to  the 
wicked  equal  to  the  infinite  evil  of  their  sins!"  "Now 
is  the  time  for  patience,  but  when  the  day  of  wrath 

1:353 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

comes  God  will  let  all  the  world  see  and  know  how 
infinitely  vile  it  is  for  worms  to  rise  in  rebellion  against 
the  Most  High." 


APPLICATION 

"Every  impenitent  sinner  will  at  the  day  of  judgment 
be  sentenced  to  depart  to  everlasting  burnings.  Now 
does  it  appear  reasonable  that  sin  should  be  so  severely 
punished?  In  heaven  they  cry  'Hallelujah!  Just  and 
righteous  are  thy  judgments,  Lord  God  Almighty !'  But 
what  is  the  language  of  your  heart?  Say,  do  you  ap- 
prove God's  judgment  or  are  you  an  enemy  to  it?" 

"Is  it  become  natural  to  you  to  look  upon  hell  as  your 
proper  due,  in  such  sort  as  that  everything  in  your  cir- 
cumstance, wherein  you  are  better  off  than  the  damned, 
appears  a  mere  pure  mercy?  Do  you  appear  so  in  your 
own  eyes  as  in  the  sight  of  God?  and  go  up  and  down 
the  world  wondering  at  the  goodness  and  patience  of 
God?" 

"Is  it  become  natural  to  you  to  be  afraid  of  sin? 
If  you  know  not  the  great  evil  of  sin,  you  know  nothing 
yet  as  you  ought  to  know.  You  are  a  stranger  to  God, 
ignorant  of  your  own  heart  and  of  the  deplorable  condi- 
tion you  are  in,  and  to  this  day  are  unhumbled,  impeni- 
tent, and  unpardoned.  Wherefore  consider  these  things, 
answer  these  questions,  and  say  what  is  your  state." 

D63 


AN  EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY  SERMON 

"Oh,  how  doleful  is  the  state  of  secure  Christless 
sinners !  At  enmity  against  God,  rebels  against  the 
majesty  of  heaven,  their  frame  of  heart  and  manner  of 
life  a  continual  despising  the  Lord !  Constant  provo- 
cation !  And  yet,  alas,  they  know  it  not !  They  little 
think  what  is  just  before  them.  The  day  of  account 
drawing  nigh;  a  day  of  darkness,  of  gloominess,  and  of 
thick  darkness,  and  of  great  wrath !" 

A  CONSIDERABLE  time  spent  with  the  preachers  of  a 
century  and  more  ago  gives  me  a  deep  respect  and  even 
reverence  for  the  men.  The  calm  sincerity  and  courage 
with  which  they  faced  the  most  awful  problems  ever 
dealt  with  in  our  human  thinking  awakens  our  admira- 
tion, but  does  not  compel  our  imitation.  The  greatness 
of  their  thought  of  God  it  would  be  well  for  us  to 
study.  Their  logical  and  mathematical  way  of  settling 
theological  questions  we  cannot  use,  for  we  have  taken 
to  examining  the  premises  before  we  make  our  deduc- 
tion. We  believe  in  a  different  God  and  a  different  man, 
in  a  different  world.  None  the  less  our  life  has  grown 
out  of  theirs,  and  our  thinking  was  prepared  for  by 
their  thinking.  We  have  reason  to  be  thankful  for  the 
honesty  with  which  they  sought  to  justify  the  ways  of 
God  to  men.  It  is  not  strange  that  their  sermons  con- 
stantly refer  to  the  unbelievers  and  opposers  of  the 
truth.     The  wonder  is  that  the  preachers  themselves 

[37] 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

were  mainly  agreed  in  their  doctrinal  viewpoint  and 
teaching.  Some  felt  that  the  problems  were  too  great 
for  them  to  deal  with,  and  devoted  themselves  to  the 
practical  guidance  of  their  parishes.  The  leading  think- 
ers threw  their  whole  might  into  finding  a  solution  of 
the  problems  that  would  satisfy  their  own  thinking  and 
that  of  their  congregations.  The  theological  variety 
and  controversies  of  the  next  century  grew  out  of  these 
same  problems.  They  have  gone  by,  and  we  in  our 
thinking  and  our  preaching  are  dealing  with  matters 
wholly  different,  but  they  are  problems  liable  to  return 
and  ask  for  a  new  solution  in  a  new  age.  Yet  one  can- 
not but  think  that  there  was  sometimes  an  unreality  and 
artificiality,  growing  out  of  their  other-worldly  point  of 
view,  which,  while  it  weakened  the  effect  of  their  preach- 
ing, gave  a  needed  relief  from  the  strain  of  their  terrible 
doctrines. 


C383 


CHAPTER  V 


BIOGRAPHIES 

TAKE  it  for  granted  that  a  book  on  the 
clergy  must  be  biographical  to  a  consid- 
erable extent.  In  undertaking  a  few 
personal  sketches  of  the  eighteenth-cen- 
tury pastors,  I  find  myself  confronted  by 
two  difficulties.  The  best-known  men  have  already  been 
well  written  about  in  books  or  pamphlets  accessible  to 
those  most  interested,  and  my  work  will  be  only  a 
repetition.  In  regard  to  those  less  known  only  meager 
information,  not  likely  to  be  of  great  interest,  is  within 
my  reach. 

The  best  sketches  I  have  found  are  those  given  by  the 
Rev.  Abel  McEwen,  D.D.,  of  New  London,  in  his 
discourses  at  Litchfield  in  1852,  at  the  centennial  of  the 
Litchfield  County  Consociation,  and  published  in  the 

1:393 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

record  of  their  proceedings.  I  suppose  the  publication 
is  now  rare  and  shall  take  the  liberty  of  quoting  from 
it  more  extensively  on  that  account.  Dr.  McEwen 
was  the  son  of  a  deacon  in  Winchester,  and  gave  his 
sketches  largely  from  his  personal  recollections  of  the 
men.  Matter  found  in  many  other  books  is  largely 
quoted  from  him,  often  without  acknowledgement. 


REV.  JOSEPH  BELLAMY 

The  Rev.  Joseph  Bellamy,  D.D.,  was  recognized  as 
the  great  man  of  his  time.  He  was  born  in  Cheshire, 
Connecticut,  February  20,  17 19,  and  was  graduated  at 
Yale  College  in  1735,  when  sixteen  years  of  age.  He 
commenced  preaching  at  eighteen  years,  and  took  part 
with  Jonathan  Edwards  in  the  great  revivals  of  that 
period,  preaching  in  many  places  with  great  fervor  and 
success.  He  was  ordained  in  Bethlehem  in  1738,  and 
had  a  pastorate  there  of  over  fifty  years,  where  he  died 
March  6,  1790. 

In  the  first  three  years  of  his  pastorate  he  went  about 
a  great  deal  in  revival  work,  but  the  revolution  in  his 
home  parish  was  one  of  wonderful  power.  "He  was  a 
man  of  commanding  presence  and  great  power  in  the 
pulpit."     He  established  and  maintained  in   his  own 

1:40: 


BIOGRAPHIES 

house  the  first  great  theological  training-school  in  the 
United  States,  many  of  the  students  boarding  in  his 
family.  It  was  customary  before  his  time  for  the  young 
theologue  to  spend  a  year  or  two  with  some  pastor,  who 
directed  his  studies  and  used  him  for  service  in  his 
parish,  but  Dr.  Bellamy  had  a  large  school  and  regular 
courses  of  study.  "He  received  the  degree  of  D.D. 
from  the  University  of  Aberdeen  in  1768."  "At  the 
age  of  thirty  he  published  what  was  regarded  as  his 
greatest  work,  'True  Religion  Delineated,'  "  the  pur- 
pose of  which  was  to  correct  errors  growing  out  of  the 
revivals  in  which  he  himself  had  so  largely  partici- 
pated. 

"The  great  body  of  the  fathers  In  this  profession  who 
adorned  the  closing  part  of  the  eighteenth  century  were 
his  pupils.  .  .  .  He  reigned  as  a  sovereign  In  his  school, 
still  the  members  of  it  venerated  and  loved  him.  His 
criticisms  were  characterized  by  sarcasm  and  severity. 
.  .  .  Dr.  Bellamy  was  in  person  manly,  of  tall  stature, 
in  the  latter  part  of  his  life  well  clothed  with  flesh. 
Pious  people  and  those  without  religion,  the  learned 
and  the  unlearned,  the  orthodox  and  the  heterodox, 
united  in  pronouncing  him  an  eloquent  preacher.  He 
had  a  voice  of  great  power  and  compass.  So  well  was 
he  acquainted  with  the  things,  operations,  and  business 
of  nature  and  of  common  life,  on  any  and  every  occasion 
for  his  imagery  he  had  a  storehouse  to  draw  from,  with 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

which  both  his  cultivated  and  his  rude  hearers  were  well 
acquainted." 

REV.  AZEL  BACKUS,  D.D. 

The  Rev.  Azel  Backus,  D.D.,  succeeded  Dr.  Bellamy 
as  pastor  at  Bethlehem  in  1791  and  was  a  man  hardly 
less  renowned.  He  was  born  in  Norwich,  Connecticut, 
November  5,  1765,  and  was  graduated  at  Yale  in  1787. 

He  maintained  at  Bethlehem  a  classical  rather  than  a 
theological  school  until  he  became  president  of  Hamil- 
ton College  in  18 12.  He  was  distinguished  as  a  scholar 
and  as  a  humorist,  but  his  sermons  were  not  an  en- 
couragement to  easy  thinking  and  living. 

"Soon  after  his  settlement  he  preached  one  of  his 
poignant,  awful  sermons  in  a  neighboring  parish.  A 
hearer,  alarmed  for  the  young  preacher,  asked  him,  'Mr. 
Backus,  dare  you  preach  such  sermons  as  this  at  home 
in  Bethlehem?'  'Yes,'  he  replied,  'I  am  obliged  to 
preach  them  in  this  style;  the  people  have  been  so  long 
kicked  and  spurned  by  Dr.  Bellamy  that  they  will  not 
feel  gentler  preaching  at  all.  This  sermon  which  you 
have  heard  is  a  mere  hazel  switch;  when  I  am  at  home 
I  use  a  sled  stake.'  His  wit  nor  even  his  drollery  could 
be  kept  out  of  the  pulpit.  His  preaching  was  of  the 
most  popular  kind.  .  .  .  Almost  every  occasion  re- 
minded him  of  human  depravity  and  the  peril  of  the 

1:423 


BIOGRAPHIES 

soul,  of  divine  grace,  its  mercy  and  richness ;  and  lo,  his 
head  was  waters  and  his  eyes  were  a  fountain  of  tears. 
.  .  .  He  excelled  in  repartee  and  in  the  delineation  of 
character.  When  he  portrayed  the  demagogue  from  the 
words  of  Absalom,  'Oh,  that  I  were  made  judge  in  the 
land,'  his  classmate,  Gideon  Granger,  said  to  him  as  he 
came  from  the  pulpit,  'Backus,  had  I  known  what  was 
coming  I  would  have  stood  up.'  .  .  .  The  personal  ap- 
pearance of  Dr.  Backus  was  impressive  and  winning: 
not  tall,  but  of  rotund  and  well-proportioned  figure,  a 
massive  head,  and  a  face  expressive  of  sensibility,  dig- 
nity, and  intelligence.  He  received  his  D.D.  from 
Princeton."     (Quotations  from  Dr.  McEwen.) 


REV.  JOHN  TRUMBULL 

The  first  pastor  in  Watertown  was  the  Rev.  John 
Trumbull.  He  was  born  in  Suffield,  Connecticut,  in 
1715,  was  graduated  at  Yale  in  1735,  was  ordained 
pastor  at  Watertown  (then  called  Westbury)  in  1737. 
"He  was  a  respectable  scholar,  but  acquired  and  main- 
tained an  influence  over  the  people  of  his  charge  by  his 
hospitality,  generosity,  and  friendly  intercourse  with 
them,  perhaps  more  than  by  distinguished  preaching. 
For  a  clergyman  of  those  times  he  was  wealthy.  If  any 
parishioner  had  lost  his  cow,  or  any  similar  calamity, 

1:43: 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

Mr.  Trumbull  headed  a  subscription  and  made  the 
affluent  among  his  people  follow  his  example.  A  saying 
was  prevalent  that  if  any  one  of  his  parishioners  turned 
Episcopalian,  Mr.  Trumbull  bought  his  farm."  (Dr. 
McEwen.) 

He  was  a  large  landowner  and  a  good  judge  of 
horses.  His  son  was  Judge  John  Trumbull,  the  author 
of  "McFingal,"  a  poem  exceedingly  popular  in  its  day. 
In  1772  Mr.  Trumbull  was  elected  a  fellow  of  Yale 
College,  and  continued  in  that  trust  until  his  death  in 
1787.    This  occurred  after  a  pastorate  of  fifty  years. 

It  is  said  of  him  in  Bronson's  "History  of  Water- 
bury"  that  he  was  not  a  tall  but  a  stout,  athletic  man. 
He  was  sound,  shrewd,  and  humorous.  Athletic 
contests  were  frequent  between  the  Waterbury  and  West- 
bury  young  men.  "In  several  of  these  contests  Water- 
bury  had  proven  too  much  for  Westbury.  On  occasion 
of  the  next  contest  Mr.  Trumbull  disguised  himself  and 
went  down  to  give  material  aid  if  necessary.  The 
wrestlers  were  called  in  one  after  another  till  Westbury 
was  again  thrown  out,  the  Waterbury  champion  having 
grounded  the  last  of  the  rival  party.  When  the  signs 
of  exultation  on  one  side  and  chagrin  on  the  other  were 
becoming  manifest,  a  stranger  was  dragged  in  from  the 
outer  circle  of  the  crowd  to  contend  for  the  Westbury 
boys.  The  parties  placed  themselves  in  position  and 
began  playing  around  to  find  each  other's  quality.    After 

1:443 


BIOGRAPHIES 

a  little  time  the  stranger,  watching  his  opportunity, 
caught  his  antagonist  first  and  threw  him  upon  the  out- 
door fire  which  was  the  center  of  the  evening  gathering. 
Shouts  filled  the  air,  and  the  victor  disappeared." 
When  the  secret  leaked  out  "it  reached  the  ears  of  Mr. 
Leavenworth,  pastor  at  Waterbury,  and  the  next  time 
he  met  his  brother  Trumbull  he  rebuked  him  for  his 
levity,  and  censured  him  particularly  for  throwing  his 
rival  on  the  fire.  Trumbull  agreed  that  he  had  been 
guilty  of  levity,  but  as  for  the  scorching  said  he  thought 
it  his  duty  to  give  Mr.  Leavenworth's  parishioners  a 
foretaste  of  what  they  might  expect  after  sitting  under 
his  preaching." 

In  his  will  he  bequeathed  to  his  widow  his  negro 
wench  Lemmon;  to  his  son  Judge  Trumbull,  his  negro 
girl  Mabel;  to  his  daughter  Sarah,  wife  of  Dr.  Caleb 
Perkins  of  Hartford,  his  negro  girl  Peg;  and  to  his 
daughter  Lucy,  wife  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Langdon  of  Dan- 
bury,  a  negro  girl  that  was  already  in  her  possession. 


FATHER  MILLS 

There  was  one  Litchfield  County  pastor  of  the  old 
time  who  was  generally  conceded  to  be  in  a  class  by 
himself.     Samuel  John  Mills  was  pastor  of  the  church 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

in  Torringford  from  1769  to  1833,  sixty-four  years, 
though  with  a  colleague  for  the  last  eleven  years.  He 
is  remembered  for  his  peculiarities,  especially  for  his 
humor,  and  in  these  later  times  known  as  the  father  of 
the  Samuel  John  Mills  to  whom  the  American  Board  of 
Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions  owes  its  organiza- 
tion. There  is  plenty  of  evidence  that  there  was  a  solid 
foundation  of  character  and  worth  beneath  the  peculiari- 
ties of  Father  Mills.  He  was  a  wise  and  successful 
pastor,  popular  with  his  own  congregation  and  liked  by 
his  brother  ministers.  I  wish  he  could  have  left  at  least 
a  volume  of  published  sermons.  I  have  no  doubt  both 
thought  and  language  would  have  amply  repaid  the 
study  of  later  times.  His  usual  preaching  was  extem- 
pore, and  we  have  but  two  printed  sermons  in  a  book 
of  selections  (dating,  I  think,  from  1797,  but  the  title- 
page  is  lacking  in  the  book  I  have) .  These  sermons  are 
a  study  of  the  sentiments  of  Jesus  Christ,  planned  more 
nearly  in  accordance  with  the  present  historic  method 
than  any  other  writing  of  his  time  with  which  I  am 
acquainted.  The  style  is  remarkably  lucid,  and  the 
amount  of  thought  packed  into  two  sermons  is  very 
unusual  in  any  age.  Of  course  the  five  points  of  Cal- 
vinism are  all  there— they  had  to  be— but  they  do  not 
occupy  the  foreground  in  the  way  usual  at  that  time,  and 
are  presented  in  the  most  practical  and  least  offensive 
way  imaginable. 

[46] 


BIOGRAPHIES 

I  have  been  told,  by  a  man  who  spent  his  boyhood 
under  the  pastorate  of  Father  Mills,  that  it  was  his 
custom,  when  in  the  middle  of  the  sermon  he  lost  his 
grip  on  his  congregation  or  they  grew  sleepy,  to  stop 
abruptly  and  introduce  a  story  or  some  irrelevant  re- 
marks until  all  were  thoroughly  awake,  then  to  resume 
the  thread  of  his  discourse  and  go  on  as  if  there  had 
been  no  interruption.  Many  of  his  stories  are  current. 
I  do  not  need  to  repeat  them.  Other  ministers  of  his 
time  found  a  place  for  humor  in  their  social  life,  and 
sometimes  apologized  for  it  as  if  it  were  a  sin.  So  far 
as  I  have  been  able  to  learn.  Father  Mills  was  the  only 
man  who  dared  to  use  it  in  his  preaching,  as  an  intended 
relief  to  his  congregation.  His  personal  human  influ- 
ence laid  a  deep  hold  for  good  upon  many  lives. 

Mrs.  Stowe,  in  her  sketch  of  Father  Morris,  has  de- 
scribed him,  and  many  anecdotes  have  found  their  way 
into  print.  I  recall  one  that  I  have  not  seen  in  any 
publication. 

Near  the  close  of  a  hard  winter  he  was  returning 
from  an  exchange  on  Monday  morning,  when  the  road 
was  walled  on  each  side  by  the  depths  of  snow  and  new 
drifts,  making  it  very  difficult  for  teams  to  pass  each 
other.  If  any  teams  turned  out  of  the  beaten  track,  a 
good  deal  of  floundering  and  perhaps  shoveling  might 
be  required.  He  saw  men  with  a  span  of  horses  advanc- 
ing to  meet  him,  when,  rising  to  his  full  height,  he 

1:473 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

shouted,  with  his  magnificent  voice,  "Turn  out.  Get 
out  of  my  road,  or  I  will  serve  you  as  I  did  the  man  in 
the  last  town."  They  proceeded  promptly  to  get  out  of 
his  way.  When,  after  thanking  them  courteously,  he 
passed  by,  one  of  them  asked  what  he  had  done  to  that 
other  man.  "Oh,"  said  he,  "he  was  contrary  and 
would  n't  turn  out  for  me,  so  I  turned  out  for  him." 


REV.  DANIEL  FARRAND 

According  to  his  biographer  In  the  Connecticut  Evan- 
gelical Magazine  for  August,  1803  :  "Mr.  Farrand  was 
born  of  reputable  and  hopefully  pious  parents,  January, 
1720,  in  Milford,  Connecticut."  His  parents  moved 
to  New  Milford.  "He  there  continued  in  the  business 
of  agriculture  during  his  youthful  days.  .  .  .  He  was 
uncommonly  attached  to  books,  and  discovered  a  great 
thirst  for  knowledge."  He  received  the  degree  of  M.A. 
from  Princeton  in  1750,  and  was  ordained  in  South 
Canaan  in  1752,  where  he  continued  in  his  pastorate 
more  than  fifty  years.  He  had  a  family  of  four  sons 
and  five  daughters,  and,  his  salary  being  small  in  pro- 
portion to  his  need,  he  was  for  a  long  course  of  years 
in  the  habit  of  preparing  young  men  and  boys  for  col- 
lege.   It  is  said  in  Sprague's  "Annals"  that  "as  a  scholar 

1:483 


BIOGRAPHIES 

in  the  dead  languages  Mr.  Farrand  in  his  day  had  few 
equals,"  and  that  "he  frequently  read  his  chapter  before 
family  prayers  from  the  Greek  Testament,  without  it 
being  observed  that  his  eye  was  not  upon  an  English 
one" ;  which  might  imply  that  he  approved  thoroughly 
of  the  Authorized  Version.  "His  manners  were  simple 
and  plain  almost  to  bluntness;  and  yet  such  was  the 
dignity  of  his  appearance  as  to  inspire  a  degree  of  awe 
which  precluded  any  attempt  at  undue  familiarity."  He 
was  regarded  as  a  sound  theologian  and  a  preacher  of 
high  rank,  but  had  a  holy  tone  in  his  delivery  that  de- 
tracted from  the  effect  of  his  preaching.  He  was 
one  of  the  wittiest  men  of  his  day,  and  his  humor 
was  unpremeditated  and  uncontrollable.  Dr.  Mc- 
Ewen  relates  that  at  a  public  dinner  a  brother  min- 
ister asked  Mr.  Farrand  "whether  Mr.  Sherman  (then 
pastor  at  Goshen)  would  be  able,  by  a  book  which  he 
had  recently  published,  to  reconcile  the  Calvinists  and 
Arminians?  The  reply  was:  'A  wolf  once  saw  two 
rams,  retreating  from  him  in  opposite  directions,  and  he 
exclaimed:  "Both  of  you  I  can  catch;  one  of  you  I  will 
have;  if  you  will  both  turn  and  come  to  me,  I  will  spare 
the  life  of  him  who  first  gets  to  me."  They  turned,  they 
rushed,  and  between  the  heads  of  the  two  butting  rams 
the  wolf  was  mashed.'  "  (Mr.  Sherman  was  soon  in 
difficulty  in  his  parish,  and  was  paid  fifty  pounds  by  the 
town  for  his  resignation.    He  was  a  brother  of  the  Hon. 

1:493 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

Roger  Sherman  and  a  man  of  popular  gifts,  but  Goshen 
would  not  stand  the  slightest  tendency  to  heterodoxy.) 

It  is  said  that  Ethan  Allen  published  an  infidel  book 
entitled  "The  Oracle  of  Reason,"  and  gave  Mr.  Far- 
rand  a  copy  to  read.  When  afterward  he  asked  his 
opinion,  Mr.  Farrand  said  that  the  paper  of  the  book 
was  of  rather  poor  quality,  otherwise  he  would  have 
thought  it  a  pity  that  so  much  of  it  had  been  unneces- 
sarily spoiled.  He  was  much  valued  as  a  peacemaker 
and  an  adviser  among  the  neighboring  churches. 


REV.  AMMI  RUHAMAH  ROBBINS 

The  Rev.  Ammi  Ruhamah  Robbins  was  the  son  of 
the  Rev.  Philemon  Robbins,  pastor  at  Branford,  Con- 
necticut, who  successfully  maintained  his  right  to  be 
liberal  in  an  intolerant  age.  He  was  born  in  Branford 
in  1740,  was  graduated  at  Yale  in  1760,  began  service 
in  Norfolk  in  January,  1761,  after  studying  theology 
with  Dr.  Bellamy,  and  was  ordained  the  first  pastor  at 
Norfolk,  October  28,  1761,  which  office  he  held  for 
fifty-two  years,  until  his  death,  October  31,  18 13.  May 
16,  1762,  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  LeBaron,  daugh- 
ter of  Dr.  LeBaron  of  Plymouth,  Massachusetts,  and 
granddaughter  of  Governor  Bradford,  a  lady  of  splen- 
did gifts,  who  became  the  mother  of  thirteen  children. 

ZS02 


Ammi  Ruhamah  Robbins 


BIOGRAPHIES 

A  young  man  of  twenty-one  years,  he  began  his  service 
with  the  church  when  it  had  but  twenty-three  members. 
When  he  preached  his  half-century  sermon,  the  whole 
number  of  members  received  had  been  five  hundred  and 
forty-nine.  He  kept  a  diary  and  careful  records  of  his 
work,  and  had  preached  in  the  fifty  years  at  home  and 
abroad  more  than  sixty-five  hundred  sermons — an 
average  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  a  year.  In  his  earlier 
ministry  he  made  five  tours  of  home  missionary  work 
in  the  new  settlements  of  from  two  to  four  months  each. 
In  these  tours  he  preached  one  hundred  and  forty-five 
sermons  and  organized  three  churches.  This  was  the 
way  for  pastors  in  Litchfield  County  to  take  their  vaca- 
tion a  hundred  years  ago,  before  modern  methods  were 
discovered. 

Mr.  Robbins  was  chaplain  in  the  Revolutionary  army 
in  1776,  but  after  a  few  months  his  health  was  so  im- 
paired that  he  was  compelled  to  return  home.  Besides 
these  periods  of  absence,  in  1783  and  in  18 10  he  was 
laid  aside  from  public  service  for  about  five  months  in 
each  year. 

He  was  a  talented  scholar  and  prepared  a  large  num- 
ber of  young  men  for  college.  Dr.  Abel  McEwen,  born 
in  Winchester,  and  for  more  than  fifty  years  pastor  in 
New  London,  Connecticut,  was  one  of  his  pupils. 
James  Watson,  a  native  of  Goshen  and  afterward 
United  States  Senator  from  New  York,  was  another. 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

Dr.  McEwen  says  of  his  former  teacher:  "It  would  be 
difficult  to  select  a  minister  in  Connecticut  who  has  been 
more  popular  with  the  people  in  his  charge,  or  who 
exercised  over  them  a  more  complete  and  useful  control. 
Bland  and  courteous  in  his  manners,  with  a  comely 
figure,  a  winning  face,  and  constitutional  agility,  he 
ruled  the  old  men,  being  at  once  their  counselor  and  their 
boon  companion.  The  young  men  were  his  children :  the 
great  majority  of  them  were  under  his  ministry  born 
into  the  kingdom  of  God.  .  .  .  His  sermons  generally 
were  not  elaborated.  His  preaching  was  an  easy  flow 
of  sound  doctrine,  natural  method,  warm  affection,  and 
simple  but  playful  elucidation.  In  his  sermons  and 
prayers,  especially  in  the  reading  of  psalms,  his  voice 
was  a  charm.  The  common  and  the  uncommon  people 
said  he  was  by  nature  a  pulpit  orator.  He  might  be 
criticized;  he  was  inevitably  admired." 

In  his  later  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Corporation 
of  Williams  College,  and  it  was  through  his  influence 
that  the  young  men  from  towns  In  his  vicinity,  who 
under  the  leadership  of  Samuel  J.  Mills,  Jr.,  started  the 
missionary  impulse  that  led  to  the  organization  of 
modern  missions  in  this  country,  were  at  Williams  in- 
stead of  at  Yale.  Three  of  his  own  sons  had  a  college 
course,  two  of  whom  were  ministers;  the  other,  James 
Watson,  preached  for  a  time,  but  lacked  health  to  con- 
tinue.   He  tells  us  that  he  had  preached  from  passages 


BIOGRAPHIES 

in  all  the  books  of  the  Bible  except  the  Epistle  to  Phile- 
mon and  the  Second  Epistle  of  John,  showing  that  he 
sought  a  wide  range  and  variety  of  themes.  His  ortho- 
doxy was  not  questioned.  He  seems  to  have  been  faith- 
ful to  the  doctrines  emphasized  by  Bellamy  and  other 
theorists  of  his  day,  but  had  a  taste  for  the  more  cheer- 
ing suggestions  of  the  New  Testament,  to  which  many 
were  afraid  to  call  attention.  It  was  said  that  he  had 
preached  in  every  town  in  the  State  of  Connecticut  but 
three,  and  in  a  large  number  of  settlements  in  northern 
New  York  and  Vermont. 


EXTRACT  FROM  THE 

AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  A  BLIND  MINISTER, 

TIMOTHY  WOODBRIDGE 

In  my  fourteenth  year  I  was  placed  in  the  classical 
school  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Robbins,  pastor  of  the  church 
and  congregation  in  Norfolk,  Connecticut.  My  new 
teacher  was  a  hale,  fine,  spirited  old  man;  was  full  of 
vivacity  and  the  pliancy  and  facility  of  manner  which 
we  often  observe  in  Frenchmen.  He  had  been  the 
pastor  of  his  church  from  its  organization.  His  con- 
gregation had  been  so  intensely  engrossed  for  many 
years  in  felling  the  forests  and  exterminating  the  wild 
beasts  that  they  had  found  but  little  time  for  intellectual 
culture;  and  it  is  probable  that  their  pastor  was  tolerably 

1531 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

satisfied  with  the  demands  of  the  community  in  the 
matter  of  intellectual  improvement. 

He  was  a  man  of  genius,  and  had  the  natural  qualities 
of  an  orator.  My  teacher  was  greatly  respected  by  his 
congregation,  and  was  in  that  region  a  sort  of  oracle. 
He  had  a  loud  voice,  great  fluency,  and  preached  almost 
extemporaneously.  He  carried  with  him  Into  the  pulpit 
a  brief  manuscript  outline  of  his  sermon;  and  if  the 
next  idea  in  the  method  of  his  discourse  did  not  occur 
to  him  in  the  proper  order,  he  seized  upon  some  collat- 
eral thought  or  illustration,  and  glowed  upon  it  to  the 
surprise  and  delight  of  his  audience.  But,  whether 
erudite  or  not,  he  kept  up  his  familiarity  with  Greek  and 
Latin,  and  was  a  good  classical  scholar.  His  school  had 
a  great  reputation  as  a  theater  for  training  boys  for 
college.  I  was  the  hundred  and  thirteenth  boy  whom 
he  had  fitted  and  entered  at  some  collegiate  institution. 

When  I  joined  his  school,  I  had  a  great  desire  to  go  to 
Yale,  because  Dr.  Dwight,  my  cousin,  was  president. 
But  Mr.  Robbins,  though  educated  at  Yale,  was  one  of 
the  trustees  of  Williams,  and  was  enthusiastic  in  his 
preference  for  this  latter  institution.  He  employed  all 
his  persuasions  to  induce  me  to  go  to  Williams.  This 
influence,  joined  to  the  fact  that  Williams  was  near  my 
home,  determined  me  to  fix  on  the  Berkshire  college. 

Mr.  Robbins  was  an  animated  and  pleasing  teacher. 
Immediately  after  morning  prayers,  he  went  up  into  our 

i:j4] 


BIOGRAPHIES 

school-room  with  his  pipe,  and  spent  an  hour  with  us  in 
hearing  our  recitations  of  the  evening  lessons,  and  in 
imparting  to  us  his  earnest  instructions.  He  entered 
into  the  business  con  amore.  When  he  left  us  in  the 
morning,  we  were  in  a  fine  glow  for  study;  and  at 
eleven  o'clock  he  returned  to  examine  the  results  of  our 
forenoon's  work,  and  was  faithful,  cheerful,  and  ami- 
able. He  was,  "take  him  for  all  in  all,"  a  delightful 
man.  His  piety  was  free,  joyous,  practical,  and  gen- 
erous. He  cultivated  in  me  an  earnest  desire  for  literary 
excellence. 

He  had  no  touch  of  the  Puritan  habit  of  never  prais- 
ing a  boy  when  he  did  well,  but  commended  me  warmly, 
and  I  was  grateful  for  it.  It  fell  upon  my  heart  like  the 
dew  of  Hermon,  and  I  never  abused  his  kindness,  but 
studied  the  harder  for  it. 


REV.  PETER  STARR 

The  Rev.  Peter  Starr  was  born  in  Danbury,  Con- 
necticut, September,  1744,  and  was  graduated  at  Yale  in 
1764.  He  studied  theology  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brins- 
made  in  Washington  and  with  Dr.  Bellamy  in  Bethle- 
hem, and  was  ordained  pastor  in  Warren,  March  18, 
1772,  where  he  died  July  17,  1829,  after  a  pastorate 
of  more  than  fifty-seven  years.    His  first  wife  was  Sarah 

CSS] 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

Robbins,  sister  of  the  pastor  in  Norfolk.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Corporation  of  Yale  College  from  1813 
to  September  8,  18 18. 

Dr.  McEwen  says  of  him :  "He  was  of  moderate  size 
and  active  habits;  well  educated,  studious,  and  intelli- 
gent, distinguished  for  judgment  and  discretion.  In 
theology  he  harmonized  with  his  brethren  in  the  country 
who  were  contemporary  with  him.  His  sermons  were 
short,  methodical,  lucid,  and  instructive.  A  very  intelli- 
gent man  bred  under  his  ministry  testifies  that  he  never 
knew  him  to  deliver  a  discourse  extempore,  even  in  a 
school-house  or  private  dwelling.  More  of  confidence, 
respect,  and  affection  than  Mr.  Starr  enjoyed,  no  pastor 
has  occasion  to  require  from  the  people  of  his  charge.  He 
was  cheerful  and  diffused  cheerfulness  around  him.  .  .  . 
Two  of  his  sons  were  educated  at  Williams  College  and 
went  into  the  profession  of  the  law." 


REV.  NATHANIEL  ROBERTS 

The  Rev.  Nathaniel  Roberts  was  born  in  Simsbury 
in  1704,  and  graduated  at  Yale  in  1732.  His  wife  was 
a  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Marsh  of  Windsor, 
and  a  sister  of  the  Rev.  John  Marsh  of  New  Hartford. 
He  was  ordained  the  first  pastor  in  Torrington,  October 
21,  1 741,  and  continued  until  his  death  in  1776. 

1:56] 


BIOGRAPHIES 

He  was  an  easy  man  in  his  theology  and  church  dis- 
cipline, and  followed  the  Half-way  Covenant  in  church 
administration.    The  first  pastor  in  Winchester  refused 
to  receive  members  on  Mr.  Roberts's  letter  of  recom- 
mendation without   further   examination.      He   was   a 
somewhat    eccentric    man,     characterized    by    humor 
peculiar  to  himself.     He  was  a  successful  pastor  and 
built  up  a  strong  church  by  his  practical  wisdom  and 
uprightness.    Not  given  to  much  theology,  as  compared 
with  other  pastors  of  his  time,  he  is  said  to  have  be- 
lieved very  strongly  in  the  devil,  and  to  have  directed 
his  life  and  preaching  quite  earnestly  to  escaping  from 
the  evil  one  and  combating  his  work.    It  is  said  that  his 
emphasis  on  the  devil  was  the  occasion  of  some  amuse- 
ment among  the  young  people,  and  that  one  young  man 
in  particular  took  to  counting  the  number  of  times  the 
devil  was  mentioned  in  a  sermon  and  reporting  it.    This 
having  come  to  the  hearing  of  Mr.  Roberts,  he  took 
particular  pains  to  guard  himself  against  his  peculiarity. 
After  finishing  his  second  sermon  he  turned  to  the  young 
man  and  said,  "I  hope  no  dissatisfaction  will  be  felt  with 
what  I  have  said,  for  I  have  mentioned  your  master's 
name  but  three  times  to-day." 

The  story  is  told  in  Orcutt's  "History  of  Torrington" 
that  one  spring  Mr.  Roberts  had  tapped  his  maple-trees, 
but  for  several  days  the  sap  had  not  run.  On  Sunday 
the  favorable  weather  came  on,  and  the  sap  filled  his 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

troughs  to  overflowing.  "On  Monday  morning  Mr. 
Roberts  was  seen  going  from  tree  to  tree,  turning  the 
sap  out  on  the  ground  with  great  vigor  and  decision,  and 
when  a  neighbor  inquired,  'Parson  Roberts,  what  are 
you  doing?  Why  do  you  throw  away  your  sap  so?' 
'Ah !  I  '11  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  works  of  the 
devil,'  said  he;  'sap,  sap,  all  day  Sunday!  I  '11  have 
nothing  to  do  with  the  works  of  the  devil.'  " 

"There  was  a  very  dry  season  during  Mr.  Roberts's 
pastorate,  a  day  of  fasting  was  appointed,  and  the  peo- 
ple were  to  assemble  at  the  church  to  pray  for  rain.  At 
the  appointed  time  the  pastor  took  his  overcoat  on  his 
arm  and  started  for  the  church.  Some  one  asked  him 
why  he  took  his  coat.  'I  tell  you  I  shall  fetch  her.  I 
tell  you  I  shall  fetch  her.'  And  It  is  said  that  It  did  rain 
before  he  went  home.  Like  the  other  ministers  of  his 
day,  he  was  intensely  patriotic  at  the  beginning  of  the 
Revolutionary  War,  and  is  reported  to  have  prayed  at 
his  public  service,  'Great  God,  we  pray  thee  to  remove 
that  Lord  North  from  office,  by  death  or  otherwise.'  " 


REV.  COTTON  MATHER  SMITH 

The  Rev.  Cotton  Mather  Smith  was  born  In  Suf- 
field,  October  i6,  1731,  and  graduated  at  Yale  College 

1:58] 


BIOGRAPHIES 

in  175 1.  He  was  a  year  with  Jonathan  Edwards,  shar- 
ing his  work  among  the  Indians.  In  1754  he  began  his 
service  with  the  church  at  Sharon,  and  about  a  year 
later  was  ordained  pastor,  holding  the  position  until  his 
death  in  1806. 

Dr.  McEwen  says  of  Mr.  Smith:  "He  was  distin- 
guished for  amiable  temper,  bodily  activity,  graceful 
manners,  industry,  and  elegant  literature.  .  ,  .  Bland 
and  courteous  in  manner,  sound  in  religious  inculcations, 
uncompromising  in  moral  habits  and  requirements,  much 
in  his  study,  and  often  in  the  families  of  his  people,  he 
harmonized  their  faith  and  social  habits,  and  gained 
such  hold  of  their  hearts  that  they  retained  his  ministry 
and  gave  deference  to  his  counsels  to  the  close  of  his 
life.  Somewhat  acquainted  with  medicine,  but  more 
because  he  had  the  heart  of  the  Good  Samaritan,  he 
was  sure  to  be  with  his  parishioners  when  sick,  and  never 
by  the  sick  was  the  presence  of  a  minister  more  cordially 
welcomed.  ...  A  very  distressing  prevalence  of  small- 
pox at  one  season  put  all  his  benevolence,  contrivance, 
activity,  and  fortitude  in  requisition.  It  was  winter; 
houses  for  the  sick  could  not  be  obtained;  seven  hundred 
persons  were  subject  to  the  disease  within  two  months. 
For  nineteen  successive  days  and  nights  he  took  not  off 
his  clothes  for  rest.  Here  was  something  in  addition  to 
good  preaching  to  make  a  minister  popular  among  his 
own  parishioners.   .   .   .   Into  the  memorable  campaign 

1:59: 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

of  1775  he  entered  as  chaplain  to  a  regiment  in  the 
Northern  army.  His  influence  in  producing  order  and 
good  morals  in  the  camp,  in  consoling  the  sick,  and 
inspiriting  the  army  with  firmness  and  intrepidity,  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  General  Schuyler,  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief, and  secured  from  this  worthy  officer 
a  respectful  friendship  for  Mr.  Smith  the  residue  of  his 
life.  ...  A  polish  of  style  and  a  sweetness  of  affection 
gave  interest  to  his  preaching,  while  fidelity  to  the  con- 
science of  his  hearers  gave  it  power." 

In  his  half-century  sermon  he  stated  that  he  had 
preached  more  than  four  thousand  public  discourses,  be- 
sides more  than  fifteen  hundred  at  funerals  and  other  spe- 
cial occasions.  Dr.  Thomas  Robbins  says  of  him  :  "Mr. 
Smith  was  a  man  of  middle  size,  rather  tall  than  other- 
wise, and  united  great  benignity  and  intelligence  in  the 
expression  of  his  countenance.  His  manners  were  re- 
markably polished,  so  that  he  might  have  appeared  to 
advantage  even  at  a  court:  they  were  a  delightful  com- 
pound of  simplicity,  gracefulness,  and  dignity.  ...  In 
his  intercourse  with  his  people  and  with  society  at  large, 
he  was  distinguished  for  his  prudence.  He  never  per- 
formed an  act  or  uttered  a  word  that  was  fitted  need- 
lessly to  wound  others,  or  to  impair  the  dignity  or  lessen 
the  influence  of  his  own  character.  .  .  .  He  had  a  good 
deal  of  unction  in  the  pulpit,  but  his  manner  was  simple, 
natural,  and  graceful.     His  views  of  divine  truth  were 

ceo] 


BIOGRAPHIES 

substantially  those  held  by  Dr.  Bellamy,  but  his  gentle 
and  urbane  manner  prevented  him  from  ever  giving 
needless  offense." 


REV.  JEREMIAH  DAY,  D.D. 

The  Rev.  Jeremiah  Day  was  born  in  Colchester,  Con- 
necticut, January  25,  1737.  He  was  brought  up  on  a 
farm,  walked  three  miles  to  school,  developed  a  great 
love  for  books,  and  was  graduated  from  Yale  College 
in  1756.  After  some  time  spent  in  teaching,  he  studied 
theology  with  Dr.  Bellamy,  but,  having  come  to  doubt 
his  fitness  for  the  ministry,  he  went  back  to  teaching.  In 
1763  he  became  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Sharon,  and 
married  Miss  Sarah  Mills  of  Kent,  a  sister  of  the  Rev. 
Samuel  J.  Mills  of  Torringford.  He  was  made  a  select- 
man in  Sharon,  and  represented  the  town  in  the  Legis- 
lature. 

After  the  death  of  his  wife  in  1767,  he  again  took  up 
the  study  of  theology  with  the  Rev.  Cotton  Mather 
Smith  of  Sharon.  He  began  to  preach  at  New  Preston 
in  1769,  and  continued  in  that  pastorate  until  his  death, 
September  12,  1806.  October  7,  1772,  he  married 
Abigail,  widow  of  the  Rev.  Sylvanus  Osborn  of  Warren, 
by  whom  he  had  five  children— a  daughter,  who  died  in 
infancy,  and  four  sons,  three  of  whom  were  graduates 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

of  Yale,  and  one  of  them  its  honored  president.  He 
purchased  a  farm  In  New  Preston,  which  he  worked 
largely  with  his  own  hands,  but  also  took  his  salary, 
part  In  work,  and  another  part  In  produce.  His  salary 
was  to  be  seventy  pounds  a  year,  but,  at  the  beginning 
of  the  Revolutionary  War,  he  gave  up  five  pounds  of  It, 
and  also  himself  paid  the  tax  of  honest  dissenters,  so 
far  as  it  was  levied  for  his  salary. 

His  letter  resigning  this  portion  of  his  salary  is  worth 
quoting.  He  says :  "Considering  the  greatness  of  the  nec- 
essary expenses  of  the  country  at  the  present  day,  and  the 
difficulty  of  the  times,  and  being  willing  to  contribute  my 
proportion  toward  the  public  expenses,  to  encourage  the 
glorious  cause  in  which  we  are  engaged,  I  am  induced 
to  give  five  pounds  lawful  money  the  present  year  to 
this  society,  to  be  deducted  out  of  my  salary  for  the  year 
1776,  which  is  more  than  two  shillings  on  the  pound 
of  all  my  rateable  estate.  And  I  furthermore  make 
declaration  and  promise  that  all  those  who  are  bound 
by  law  to  pay  rate  to  me,  but  profess  to  be  of  any  other 
religious  denomination  from  us,  if  they  will  produce 
good  and  credible  certificate  that  they  have  paid  for 
the  support  of  the  Gospel  to  the  amount  of  their  rates  to 
me,  for  preaching  which  they  have  enjoyed  within  the 
compass  of  the  year,  i.e.,  from  February  i,  1776,  to 
February  i,  1777,  shall  in  consequence  of  application 
made  to  me  for  the  above-mentioned  year  receive  a  full 

Z62-2 


BIOGRAPHIES 

discharge  of  their  ministerial  taxes.  That  they  should 
be  required  to  pay  something  for  the  support  of  the 
Gospel  Is  reasonable,  inasmuch  as  a  preached  Gospel  is 
a  benefit  to  civil  society,  as  well  as  to  the  souls  of  men." 

This  rebate  he  continued  for  the  remaining  thirty 
years  of  his  life.  He  was  a  man  of  solid  goodness  and 
sound  sense,  whose  influence  reached  far.  I  will  quote 
regarding  him  from  the  Connecticut  Evangelical  Maga- 
zine for  December,  1806: 

"In  private  life,  in  the  domestic  relations,  Mr.  Day 
afforded  as  perfect  an  example  as  nature  has  produced 
since  families  were  formed.  To  his  wife  he  was  all  that 
her  fondest  wishes  could  claim  or  ask;  to  his  children 
he  was  the  best  of  fathers." 

"In  all  his  Intercourse  with  his  people  he  was  grave, 
serious,  and  Instructive.  Wise  as  a  serpent  and  harmless 
as  a  dove,  he  was  one  of  the  most  illustrious  examples  of 
ministerial  prudence.  As  a  divine  he  had  a  sound  under- 
standing, capable  of  deep  research.  .  ,  .  With  a  clear 
and  luminous  method,  he  loved  chiefly  to  dwell  on  the 
great  doctrines  of  divine  grace  and  the  distinguishing 
truths  of  the  Gospel.  To  his  brethren  In  the  ministry  he 
was  a  tried  friend  and  an  able  counselor.  His  advice 
was  much  sought  and  Improved.  Indeed,  in  this  Im- 
portant branch  of  ministerial  duty  he  may  not  have  left 
a  parallel.  Always  upright  In  his  views,  remarkable  for 
punctuality  In  attendance  on  all  appointments,  and  able 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

at  once  to  seize  the  right  point  in  every  question,  able  to 
disentangle  the  most  embarrassed  subject,  clear  and  con- 
clusive in  his  reasonings,  fellow-members  in  council 
always  felt  themselves  honored  when  they  found  his 
opinion  coincide  with  theirs." 

He  lived  to  see  his  youngest  son  licensed  to  preach 
the  Gospel  and  was  ready,  like  the  aged  Simeon,  to  de- 
part in  peace,  feeling  that  this  life  had  reached  its 
culmination  of  blessedness.  "He  frequently  remarked 
that  death  had  no  terrors  for  him  and  that,  if  it  was 
the  will  of  God,  he  did  not  wish  to  live  beyond  his  use- 
fulness." His  desire  was  granted,  and  he  passed  away 
in  his  seventieth  year,  able  to  participate  in  affairs  to 
the  last. 


1:64:1 


CHAPTER  VI 


SECOND  PERIOD  — TRANSITION 


HERE  was  little  manifest  change  in  the 
position  and  work  of  the  clergy  of  Litch- 
field County  until  about  1800,  and  until 
that  time  there  was  a  general  agreement 
in  theological  belief,  a  large  proportion 
of  the  pastors  having  been  students  with  Dr.  Bellamy, 
or  readily  conforming  to  the  accepted  standard.  For 
the  next  sixty  years  many  influences  combined  to  work 
great  and  continuous  changes.  First  of  all  was  the  read- 
justment of  the  Calvinistic  theology.  Calvinism  had 
long  been  an  accepted  theory,  but  it  had  probably  never 
been  used  as  the  staple  in  preaching  as  constantly  and 
thoroughly  as  in  the  eighteenth-century  preaching  of 
this  county.  It  naturally  aroused  much  opposition  and 
unbelief  among  men  outside  the  church,  but  in  the 
Congregational   churches   it   had   its   own   way.     Con- 

1:653 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

troversy  with  the  Episcopal  Church  was  not  mainly  on 
doctrinal  lines,  and  the  early  Baptists  were  in  their  way 
as  thoroughly  Calvinistic  as  the  Congregationalists.  The 
Methodists  were  now  coming  in  and  were  aggressively 
Arminian.  The  Wesleyan  theology  was  preached  with 
the  exaggerated  zeal  of  men  not  theologically  educated 
and  intensely  in  earnest.  New  adjustments  were  sought 
for  by  the  new  thinkers  in  the  Congregationalist  minis- 
try, and  there  were  among  them  many  able  and  energetic 
men. 

The  Rev.  Asahel  Hooker  of  Goshen  took  up  the  work 
of  training  theological  students,  which  had  been  laid 
down  by  Dr.  Bellamy,  and  Dr.  Backus  of  Somers.  He 
was  supposed  to  be  thoroughly  loyal  to  the  older  theol- 
ogy, but  was  ready  to  enforce  it  by  new  statements.  Dr. 
Jonathan  Edwards  of  Colebrook,  Dr.  Ebenezer  Porter 
of  Washington,  and  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher  of  Litchfield, 
were  ready,  with  Dr.  Timothy  Dwight  of  New  Haven, 
to  make  the  essentials  clearer  by  new  statements;  and 
their  new  statements  or  improvements  were  regarded 
with  suspicion  by  many  of  their  brethren.  Dr.  Beecher 
had  so  much  confidence  in  the  power  of  logic  to  settle 
everything  that  he  was  very  tolerant  of  efforts  to  re- 
consider all  questions. 

Exciting  controversies  grew  and  continued,  preparing 
the  way  for  a  sharp  division  which  took  place  over  the 
New  Haven  theology,  as  it  was  promulgated  by  Dr. 


Horace  Bushnell 


SECOND  PERIOD-TRANSITION 

Nathaniel  W.  Taylor.  It  is  difficult  in  these  days  to 
appreciate  the  differences  which  were  held  to  be  of  such 
tremendous  importance  for  a  generation.  The  center 
of  Dr.  Taylor's  improvement  seems  to  have  been  in 
emphasizing  the  distinction  between  certainty  and  neces- 
sity. It  was  certain  that  some  people  would  be  damned, 
but  they  did  n't  have  to  be  damned.  There  was  always 
with  them  a  power  of  contrary  choice,  which  they  were 
capable  of  exercising,  and  they  failed,  not  because  of 
having  made  a  single  wrong  choice,  but  because  of  a 
permanent  wilful  refusal  of  the  right.  The  leader  of 
opposition  to  this  "dangerous"  man  was  the  Rev.  Ben- 
nett Tyler,  D.D.,  who  became  the  founder  of  the  East 
Windsor  theology.  Both  men  were  from  Litchfield 
County.  Dr.  Taylor  was  from  New  Milford,  the  grand- 
son of  the  pastor  there.  Dr.  Tyler  was  born  in  Wood- 
bury and  was  pastor  for  a  time  of  the  church  in  South 
Britain,  then,  but  not  now,  in  Litchfield  County.  This 
controversy  of  old  and  new  school,  attended  by  the 
Methodist  aggression  all  along  the  line,  reached  every 
parish  and  made  life  more  exciting  to  all  ministers,  but 
it  only  prepared  the  way  for  a  still  deeper  revolution  in 
theological  thinking,  led  by  Dr.  Horace  Bushnell  in  the 
next  generation. 

Besides  the  theological  movements  there  was  political 
upheaval  which  separated  church  and  state  and  deprived 
the  minister  of  his  secular  authority.     After   1818  no 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

man  could  be  taxed  for  the  support  of  a  church  or  pastor 
without  his  consent.  In  some  towns  or  parishes  the 
system  of  taxation  continued  by  general  consent  for  a 
time,  but  democracy  in  church  affairs  had  made  an  ad- 
vance, and,  while  the  pastor  might  still  exercise  a  com- 
manding influence  by  virtue  of  his  character,  he  was  no 
longer  an  autocrat  by  virtue  of  his  office. 

The  world  outside  had  grown  larger,  and  means  of 
communication  were  continually  increasing.  Railroads 
were  built,  and  manufacturing  towns  grew  up  in  connec- 
tion with  the  new  means  of  transportation.  There  was 
an  influx  of  a  new  and  heterogeneous  population,  with 
a  demand  for  new  churches  and  with  new  demands  on 
the  ministers. 

About  1800,  prayer-meetings  began  to  be  organized 
among  the  people,  and  a  new  activity  was  aroused  in 
the  lay  element,  which  formerly  had  for  the  most  part 
been  silent.  In  a  few  years  church  prayer-meetings  on 
Friday  afternoons  became  customary.  Dr.  Ebenezer 
Porter  of  Washington,  and  afterward  Dr.  Lyman 
Beecher  of  Litchfield,  preached  on  temperance.  Tem- 
perance societies  were  organized  in  which  ministers  were 
leaders,  and  ministers'  meetings  adopted  habits  of  absti- 
nence. Societies  for  moral  reform  were  started.  The 
great  missionary  movement  began  with  young  men  from 
this  county  as  leaders,  and  the  clergy  gave  it  their  best 
thought  and  effort.     About  18 17,  Sunday-schools  were 

[[68] 


SECOND  PERIOD-TRANSITION 

generally  established.  A  few  churches  had  them  earlier. 
It  is  evident  that  the  first  half  of  the  nineteenth  century 
was  fermenting  with  religious  forces.  New  wine  was 
bursting  the  old  bottles.  New  leaders  and  new  methods 
were  called  for,  and  pastors  were  aroused  to  their  ut- 
most endeavor.  Even  the  consecrated  men  who  sought 
to  hold  by  the  old  things  were  carried  off  their  feet  by 
the  inrush  of  new  forces. 

The  times  were  of  necessity  characterized  by  insta- 
bility in  the  pastoral  office.  Litchfield  County  abounded 
in  pastors  of  large  ability  fitted  to  lead  in  a  large  way. 
The  outside  demand  for  such  men  was  great,  and  they 
could  not  be  retained  in  their  parishes.  Dr.  Bellamy, 
though  the  greatest  preacher  of  his  day,  had  been  able 
to  stay  in  his  pastorate  at  Bethlehem  for  a  lifetime.  In 
the  new  age  such  men  were  called  to  a  work  in  larger 
communities  with  an  urgency  they  could  not  resist. 
His  successor.  Dr.  Azel  Backus,  accepted  in  1813  the 
presidency  of  Hamilton  College.  Dr.  Edward  Dorr 
Griffin,  born  at  East  Haddam  in  1770,  graduated  at 
Yale  in  1790,  pastor  in  New  Hartford  from  1795  to 
1 801,  was  called  to  Newark,  New  Jersey,  and  afterward 
became  president  of  Williams  College.  Ebenezer  Por- 
ter, D.D.,  was  born  at  Cornwall,  Connecticut,  October 
5,  1772,  and  graduated  at  Dartmouth  in  1792.  He 
was  pastor  at  Washington,  Connecticut,  from  1796  to 
18 12,  and  was  called  to  the  professorship  of  sacred 

1:69] 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

rhetoric  in  Andover  Theological  Seminary.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  intellectual  strength  and  ability,  who  exer- 
cised a  wide  influence.  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher,  after  his 
sixteen  years  in  Litchfield,  was  called  to  Boston.  He 
was  afterward  professor  and  president  of  Lane  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  Cincinnati.  Noah  Porter,  D.D., 
LL.D.,  was  pastor  at  New  Milford  from  1836  to  1843, 
afterward  professor  and  president  of  Yale  College. 
George  Pierce,  pastor  at  Harwinton  from  1822  to  1834, 
was  called  to  the  presidency  of  Western  Reserve  Col- 
lege. 

Jonathan  Edwards,  D.D.,  pastor  at  Colebrook  from 
1796  to  1799,  became  president  of  Union  College. 
Ralph  Emerson,  D.D.,  the  second  pastor  at  Norfolk, 
and  ministering  there  from  18 15  to  1829,  was  called  to 
a  professorship  in  the  theological  seminary  at  Andover, 
where  he  filled  the  chair  of  history  and  pastoral  theology 
for  twenty-five  years  with  great  power  and  usefulness. 
He  had  previously  been  invited  to  the  presidency  of 
Western  Reserve  College,  but  had  declined. 

The  Rev.  Harvey  D.  Kitchell,  pastor  at  Thomaston 
from  1838  to  1848,  after  pastorates  in  Detroit  and 
Chicago  became  president  of  Middlebury  College. 
These  names  selected  from  many  indicate  that  while 
Litchfield  County  in  this  period  had  no  lack  of  great 
men,  it  had  become  more  difficult  to  retain  them  for  a 
life  service.     It  had  become  easier  for  both  ministers 


SECOND  PERIOD-TRANSITION 

and  people  to  come  and  go,  and  if  there  were  induce- 
ments for  young  ministers  to  come,  there  were  still 
greater  inducements  for  ministers  of  established  repu- 
tations to  enter  larger  fields  of  work  elsewhere.  Thus 
pastors  in  Litchfield  County  were  called  to  a  much  more 
strenuous  and  varied  work  than  in  the  earlier  time,  were 
compelled  to  be  leaders  in  the  teaching  of  new  thought 
and  the  organizing  of  new  methods,  and  their  time  for 
impressing  themselves  on  the  community  was  short. 
They  became  great  quickeners  of  thinking  and  insti- 
gators of  change  rather  than  builders  of  the  permanent 
elements  of  parish  life.  It  seems  to  me  that  they  did 
their  work  on  the  whole  remarkably  well.  Rolling 
stones  are  not  good  at  gathering  moss  nor  building 
foundations,  but  they  may  accomplish  something  in 
other  ways.  Certainly  the  ministers  of  short  pastorate 
and  great  activity,  who,  amid  controversies,  disintegra- 
tions, and  reorganizations,  had  charge  of  the  churches 
in  this  county  from  1800  to  i860,  were  many  of  them 
exceedingly  capable  men  and  did  well  the  work  given 
them  to  do.  They  developed  latent  forces  in  the 
churches  and  set  their  people  at  work.  A  sense  of 
responsibility  for  things  was  pressed  home  upon  men, 
women,  and  children.  The  separateness  and  dignity  and 
official  authority  of  the  clergy  for  the  most  part  passed 
away,  but  they  became  leaders  in  the  things  that  concern 
the  daily  life  of  men. 

C70 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

They  ceased  to  begin  their  preaching  from  God  as 
a  Being  wholly  known,  deducing  by  logical  inference  the 
duty  and  destiny  of  men.  They  began  with  men  in 
human  affairs  living  under  earthly  conditions,  and  tried 
to  lead  their  people  step  by  step  toward  God  as  the  great 
consummation  of  our  human  life.  Leveling  influences 
were  everywhere  at  work,  and  as  the  ministers  them- 
selves came  down  from  their  high  pulpits  to  the  plat- 
form nearer  their  congregation,  they  taught  their  fellow- 
Christians  also  to  become  a  leaven  in  human  society, 
even  at  the  risk  of  soiling  their  white  robes  by  contact 
with  the  dirty  work  of  the  world.  There  was  a  new 
world  coming  rapidly  into  existence,  and  with  more  or 
less  clearness  of  vision  the  spiritual  guides  and  teachers 
recognized  the  fact,  and  sought  so  to  make  Christianity 
the  center  of  every  movement  that  it  might  be  the  new 
world  wherein  shall  dwell  righteousness.  After  the 
storm  of  theological  and  ecclesiastical  controversy  the 
air  became  clearer  and  the  essentials  of  Christian  love  and 
brotherly  cooperation  became  apparent  to  most  minds. 

The  equal  rights  of  men  of  all  opinions  and  all  de- 
nominations to  a  part  in  the  common  service  of  the  one 
Master  and  Saviour  in  every  community  were  practically 
established,  though  the  principles  and  methods  of  ad- 
justment, and  the  achievement  of  mutual  confidence  and 
brotherly  confederation,  had  yet  to  be  thought  out.  Ex- 
cept in  the  separation  of  church  and  state,  which  was 


SECOND  PERIOD-TRANSITION 

taken  In  hand  largely  by  the  outside  people,  the  clergy 
were  leaders  in  every  change  and  readjustment,  and  the 
general  wisdom  shown  by  them  was  only  emphasized 
by  the  exceptional  action  or  adverse  criticisms  of  a  few. 
There  were  mistakes  that  wrought  injury  and  left  the 
scars  of  battle,  but,  on  the  whole,  the  record  of  ministers 
and  their  work  was  one  to  be  admired  and  approved  by 
every  close  and  clear-eyed  student  of  this  historic  period. 


i:73i 


CHAPTER  VII 

PERSONAL  SKETCHES 


REV.  STANLEY  GRISWOLD 

ERETICS  are  usually  interesting,  and  in 
these  later  days  heresy  often  seems  a 
ground  of  popularity  in  a  minister.  It 
was  a  less  comfortable  thing  to  differ 
from  one's  brethren  a  century  ago.    The 


Rev.  Stanley  Griswold  was  an  early  example  of  such  dif- 
ference in  this  county.  He  was  born  in  Torringford, 
November  14,  1763,  and  was  graduated  from  Yale  in 
1786.  He  was  ordained  as  pastor  in  New  Milford 
January  20,  1790,  and  dismissed  in  1802. 

Early  in  his  ministry  it  began  to  be  suspected  that  he 
was  unsound  and  unsafe  in  his  theology,  but  evidently 
he  had  no  intention  of  controverting  the  essentials  of 
the  generally  accepted  belief.     I  have  seen  a  letter  writ- 

C743 


Congregational  Church,  Goshen 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES 

ten  to  his  father  in  which  he  resented  the  suspicion  that 
he  was  departing  from  the  faith  of  the  fathers.  He  was 
only  trying  to  make  that  faith  workable  by  using  com- 
mon sense  in  its  application. 

From  two  published  sermons  on  the  death  of  his 
predecessor,  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  Taylor,  in  1800,  it  is 
easy  to  see  that  the  standpoint  of  his  thinking  and  teach- 
ing was  different  from  that  generally  prevalent  in  his 
time.  He  evidently  believed  that  goodness  was  some- 
thing to  be  achieved  by  human  choice  and  effort,  and 
that  it  gave  one  a  clear  title  to  heaven.  He  says:  "The 
art,  my  hearers,  of  turning  death  into  a  pleasing  scene, 
is  the  most  important  art  ever  learned  by  mortals.  Such 
an  art  does  really  exist.  We  are  dull  indeed  to  learn  it. 
Yet  it  is  the  most  simple  art;  it  consists  only  in  being 
good.  And  to  be  good  is  far  easier  than  to  be  evil; 
for  the  way  of  transgressors  is  hard,  whereas  the  yoke 
of  Christ  is  easy  and  his  burden  light." 

Almost  any  minister  of  his  time  would  have  explained 
that  no  hope  could  be  founded  on  human  choice  and 
human  goodness,  only  on  the  election  and  grace  of  God, 
which  must  give  to  our  lives  their  value. 

In  the  second  sermon  he  makes  a  statement  almost 
equally  startling  in  regard  to  the  nature  of  rewards  and 
punishments:  "Happiness  belongs  only  to  the  good 
mind;  malice  is  a  hell  to  its  possessor.  .  .  .  Sin  murders 
the  soul  itself,  and  in  the  future  world  anguish  and  tor- 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

ment  assail  the  foul  spirit  to  a  degree  inconceivable  and 
unspeakable.  Our  Saviour  speaks  of  it  under  the  figure 
of  torment  occasioned  by  fire  and  brimstone,  and  char- 
acterizes it  by  weeping,  wailing,  and  gnashing  of  teeth." 

Mr.  Griswold  was  a  speaker  of  marked  ability,  and 
his  church  sympathized  with  him  when  neighboring 
ministers  objected  to  his  course.  He  was  evidently  a 
man  whose  character  and  personal  qualities  commanded 
admiration  and  respect.  How  far  the  teaching  of  his 
predecessor,  Mr.  Taylor,  prepared  the  way  for  his  influ- 
ence, I  have  no  means  of  knowing,  but  apparently  the 
old  pastor  was  on  the  best  of  terms  with  the  new.  In 
the  funeral  discourse,  Mr.  Taylor  is  said  to  have  held 
metaphysics  "as  very  unprofitable  to  be  introduced  into 
public  discourses,"  also  to  have  believed  some  of  the 
heathen  might  be  saved,  and  to  have  baptized  children 
"on  their  own  account."  The  question  arises,  but  can- 
not be  answered  by  any  knowledge  in  my  possession,  con- 
cerning the  influence  both  of  the  grandfather  and  of 
Mr.  Griswold  on  the  career  of  the  young  Nathaniel  W. 
Taylor,  who  was  afterward  the  great  exponent  of  the 
New  Haven  theology. 

Perhaps  Mr.  Griswold  might  have  continued  in  his 
pastorate  but  for  his  prominence  in  political  matters,  in 
which,  unlike  his  brother  ministers,  he  took  the  side  of 
Jefferson,  whose  election  was  regarded  by  religious  lead- 
ers in  Connecticut  as  a  horrible  calamity  and  a  triumph 

1:763 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES 

of  infidelity.  In  1803  Mr.  Griswold  acknowledged 
such  a  change  of  belief  that  he  retired  from  the  minis- 
try. He  was  afterward  United  States  Senator  from 
Ohio,  and  Chief  Judge  of  the  Northwest  Territory. 
He  continued  to  be  a  man  of  religious  faith  and  influ- 
ence outside  the  ministry. 


REV.  ALEXANDER  GILLETT 

The  Rev.  Alexander  Gillett  was  born  August  14, 
1749,  in  Granby,  Connecticut,  "and  was  the  son  of 
pious  parents."  He  was  graduated  at  Yale  in  1770,  and 
studied  theology  under  the  direction  of  the  Rev.  Timo- 
thy Pitkin  of  Farmington.  He  was  pastor  at  Wolcott, 
Connecticut,  from  1773  to  1791,  and  of  the  First 
Church  in  Torrington  from  1792  until  his  death  in 
1826.  He  frequently  aided  other  pastors  in  revival  ser- 
vices, and  had  several  revivals  in  his  own  parish.  He 
made  missionary  tours  in  the  new  settlements  of  Ver- 
mont, leaving  his  own  pulpit  for  a  time  to  be  supplied, 
and  was  zealous  in  holding  neighborhood  services  in  the 
school-houses  or  in  pastoral  visiting.  His  surviving 
parishioners  remembered  him  with  great  affection  and 
respect  and  no  unpleasant  recollections.  It  is  said  by 
Mr.  Orcutt  in  his  "History  of  Torrington"  :  "He  was 

1:773 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

always  seen  on  Sunday  morning  coming  to  church  on 
foot  with  umbrella  and  overcoat,  the  latter  on  his  arm 
in  all  weathers,  no  matter  how  high  the  thermometer. 
Having  preached  the  morning  sermon,  he  frequently 
closed  with  the  remark,  'Having  thus  attended  to  the 
doctrines  of  the  text,  we  will  consider  the  applications 
this  afternoon,'  and  the  morning  and  afternoon  sermons 
were  nearly  always  connected.  .  .  .  He  was  a  com- 
poser of  poetry  and  music  as  well  as  sermons." 

His  neighbor,  the  Rev.  Frederick  Marsh,  says  of 
Mr.  Gillett:  "He  was  rather  above  the  medium  stature 
and  size,  of  a  full  habit,  broad  shoulders,  short  neck, 
and  large  head.  .  .  .  His  face  was  broad  and  unusually 
square  and  full,  illuminated  by  large,  prominent  eyes, 
the  whole  indicating  more  of  intellect  than  of  viv^acity. 
He  was  courteous  and  kind,  swift  to  hear  and  slow  to 
speak.  ...  As  a  man  of  intellectual  ability  he  held  a 
decidedly  high  rank.  He  had  an  aversion  to  everything 
superficial.  He  was  an  admirable  linguist,  and  above 
all  excelled  in  the  knowledge  of  the  Bible,  not  merely  in 
his  own  language  but  in  the  original.  I  have  heard  an 
eminent  minister,  who  fitted  for  college  under  his  in- 
structions, say  that  he  never  found  any  tutor  so  accurate 
and  thorough  in  the  languages  as  Mr.  Gillett.  He  was 
also  very  familiar  and  extensively  acquainted  with  his- 
tory; and  he  studied  history  especially  as  an  exposition 

[78] 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES 

of  prophecy.  .  .  .  During  seventeen  years  of  familiar 
intercourse  with  him,  my  mind  became  constantly  more 
impressed  with  the  depth  of  his  piety,  his  unreserved 
consecration  to  God,  his  self-sacrificing  devotion  to  the 
cause  of  Christ  and  the  highest  interests  of  his  fellow- 
men,  .  .  .  He  presented  truth  with  great  clearness  and 
point,  hence  his  preaching  took  strong  hold  on  congre- 
gations in  the  time  of  revivals.  .  .  .  His  delivery  was 
rendered  laborious  and  difficult  by  an  impediment  in  his 
speech.  He  could  not  be  called  a  popular  preacher,  but 
he  was  a  skilful  and  faithful  guide  to  souls,  and  his 
labors  were  abundantly  blessed." 

Dr.  McEwen  tells  us:  "Whatever  of  management 
and  labor  pertained  to  the  farm,  he  gave  exclusively  to 
the  family.  One  large  chamber  he  made  his  sanctum. 
It  was  accommodated  with  a  large  old-fashioned  fire- 
place. In  this  every  morning,  even  through  dog  days, 
he  made  a  blazing  fire,  raising  the  windows  when  neces- 
sary. His  philosophy  was  that  in  hot  weather  a  fire  in 
the  morning  purified  the  air  and  by  increasing  the  circu- 
lation made  it  cooler.  Few  ministers  spent  more  hours 
in  their  study  than  Mr.  Gillett."  In  that  room  he 
studied,  wrote  sermons,  poetry,  and  music,  played  on 
the  bass  viol,  and  practised  for  diversion  the  art  of  a 
bookbinder.  He  is  said  to  have  taken  up  the  study  of 
Hebrew  and  made  himself  proficient  in  it  after  he  was 

D9: 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

forty.  Perhaps  his  friends  were  not  the  best  judges  as 
to  what  constituted  proficiency  in  Hebrew.  One  son, 
Timothy  P.  Gillett,  was  a  minister  and  pastor  for  fifty- 
one  years  of  the  church  in  Branf ord,  Connecticut. 


REV.  ASAHEL  HOOKER 

The  Rev.  Asahel  Hooker  was  born  in  Bethlehem, 
Connecticut,  August  29,  1762,  in  the  fifth  generation 
from  the  Rev.  Thomas  Hooker,  first  pastor  of  Hart- 
ford. He  was  graduated  at  Yale  in  1789,  studied  theol- 
ogy under  the  Rev.  William  Robinson  of  Southington, 
Connecticut,  and  was  ordained  pastor  at  Goshen  in 
1 79 1.  Under  his  ministry  the  church,  which  had  been 
In  a  distracted  and  divided  condition,  soon  became 
united  and  strong. 

He  took  up  for  a  time  the  work  of  training  theological 
students,  in  which  he  was  very  successful.  He  was  dis- 
missed in  18 10,  on  account  of  the  failure  of  his  health. 
He  preached  afterward  with  acceptance  in  New  Haven, 
New  York,  and  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  but  did  not 
recover  his  health  fully  and  died  in  18 13.  His  son, 
Edward  W.  Hooker,  D.D.,  was  a  professor  at  the  East 
Windsor  Theological  Seminary,  and  he  had  grandsons 
In  the  ministry.  President  Heman  Humphrey,  one  of 
his  students,  says  of  him:  "He  was  a  good  man,  of  ex- 

[80] 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES 

cellent  talent  and  high  professional  acquirements,  a 
devoted  pastor,  an  edifying  and  a  searching  preacher,  a 
wise  counselor,  an  earnest  defender  of  the  faith  once 
delivered  to  the  saints,  an  Elisha  among  the  young 
prophets,  a  revered  and  beloved  teacher  who  will  ever 
live  in  the  grateful  memory  of  his  pupils  as  long  as  any 
of  them  survive," 

He  had  lived  under  the  preaching  of  Dr.  Bellamy, 
with  whose  doctrinal  position  he  considered  himself  in 
essential  agreement.  I  have  used  one  of  his  sermons, 
with  one  of  Dr.  Bellamy's,  in  preparing  a  sample 
eighteenth-century  sermon.  He  was  for  several  years 
registrar  of  both  the  North  Consociation  and  the  Asso- 
ciation of  Litchfield  County,  and  his  records  show  that 
ex-President  Roosevelt  was  not  the  inventor  of  simplified 
spelling.  We  are  frequently  informed  that  certain  votes 
were  past,  or  that  the  ecclesiastical  body  concerned  past 
a  given  vote. 

REV.  LUTHER  HART 

The  Rev.  Luther  Hart  was  born  in  Goshen,  July  27, 
1783,  and  graduated  at  Yale  in  1807.  He  studied  the- 
ology with  Dr.  Porter  of  Washington  and  Mr.  Hooker 
of  Goshen.  He  was  ordained  pastor  in  Plymouth,  Con- 
necticut, in  1 8 10,  and  continued  in  office  until  he  died, 
April  25,  1834.     He  was  a  man  greatly  beloved  by  his 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

people  and  highly  honored  among  his  brethren  in  the 
ministry.  "There  was  no  resisting  his  candor  and 
manly  sincerity,  which  gave  evidence  not  only  of  his 
Christian  principle,  but  of  the  frankness  and  honesty  of 
his  heart."  He  was  a  lover  of  poetry  and  music,  a 
writer  of  poetry,  and  a  musician  of  high  order. 

The  Rev.  Lauren  P.  Hickok,  D.D.,  says  of  Mr. 
Hart:  "One  of  his  marked  characteristics  was  an  inde- 
scribable expression  of  cheerfulness  and  hearty  good 
will,  diffusing  its  sweet  savor  wherever  he  was,  so  that 
his  presence  and  society  were  always  sought.  His  inter- 
course with  his  church  and  people  was  very  frank  and 
familiar,  yet  with  a  large  amount  of  reserved  dignity 
and  seriousness.  His  sermons  were  serious,  pungent, 
and  discriminating,  and  abounded  less  in  long-drawn 
argument  than  in  condensed,  sententious  thoughts  and 
concise  declarations.  His  voice  was  full  and  melo- 
dious." He  had  a  high  reputation  for  eloquence  in  the 
pulpit. 


REV.  SAMUEL  R.  ANDREW 

The  Rev.  Samuel  R.  Andrew  was  born  at  Milford, 
Connecticut,  in  1787,  and  was  graduated  from  Yale  in 
1807.  He  was  the  grandson  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  An- 
drew of   Milford,   Connecticut,   who  was   one   of  the 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES 

founders  of  Yale  College,  and  pastor  at  Milford  for 
fifty  years.  Mr.  Andrew  was  ordained  pastor  at  Wood- 
bury in  1 8 17  and  continued  in  his  pastorate  until  1846. 
He  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Yale  Corporation  in 
1837.  "Mr.  Andrew's  intellect  was  strong,  clear,  com- 
prehensive, and  discriminating.  His  judgment  was  pre- 
eminently sound  and  wise.  His  taste  was  pure  and 
classical.  His  sensibilities  were  exquisitely  susceptible 
to  beauty  in  nature,  in  literature,  and  in  character.  His 
thoughts  were  always  just,  often  rich  and  original.  He 
was  a  laborious  student,  a  close,  independent,  and  com- 
prehensive thinker  in  theology.  His  sympathies  were 
as  tender  as  his  intellect  was  strong.  .  .  .  His  piety 
was  the  very  beauty  of  holiness,  it  was  so  unaffected,  so 
symmetrical,  so  honest,  and  so  tender.  .  .  .  He  was 
strong  in  faith,  giving  glory  to  God;  when  dreadful 
waves  of  sorrow  broke  over  him,  he  cast  himself  upon 
the  promises  of  his  covenant  God  with  the  simplicity  and 
confidence  of  a  child."  ^  His  death  was  sudden  and 
quiet,  and  he  passed  away  as  one  greatly  loved  and 
lamented. 

REV.  JAMES  BEACH 

The  Rev.  James  Beach  was  born  in  Winchester,  June 
10,  1780,  was  graduated  at  Williams  College,  studied 

^  Neiu  York  Observer,  quoted  in  Cothren's  "History  of  Woodbury." 

[83: 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

theology  with  the  Rev.  Asahel  Hooker  of  Goshen,  was 
ordained  pastor  of  the  First  Church  in  Winsted,  Janu- 
ary I,  1806,  and  dismissed  January  26,  1842,  after  a 
pastorate  of  thirty-six  years.  The  Rev.  Cyrus  Yale  says 
of  him:  "He  held  a  high  position  among  his  clerical 
brethren,  was  one  whom  they  delighted  to  honor,  and 
this  the  more  the  older  he  grew  and  the  better  they 
knew  him.  His  great  weight  of  character  and  rare  influ- 
ence seemed  to  result  very  much  from  a  happy  combina- 
tion of  deep  piety,  cultivated  and  vigorous  intellect, 
sterling  sense,  uniform  judiciousness,  joined  to  his 
marked  sobriety,  his  brotherly  kindness,  and  his  dignified 
manner,  his  steady  manifestation  of  strong  love  to  God 
and  of  God's  truths  as  he  saw  them  on  the  sacred  page  in 
lines  of  light  and  glory.  How  all  desired  to  have  him 
lead  in  devotional  exercises  on  all  occasions  as  one  pre- 
eminently endowed  with  the  gift  and  the  grace  of  prayer ! 
.  .  .  The  person  of  Mr.  Beach,  though  not  tall,  was 
commanding,  his  eyes  deep  set  beneath  heavy  brows.  .  .  . 
He  was  singularly  well  formed  for  strength  of  body  and 
of  mind,  gravity  and  goodness  had  about  equal  posses- 
sion of  his  countenance,  while  reason  was  more  strongly 
developed  than  Imagination." 

Dr.  Joseph  Eldridge  says  of  Mr.  Beach :  "His  dis- 
position was  social  and  genial.  He  was  a  pleasant  man 
to  meet.  He  had  a  considerate  regard  for  his  minis- 
terial brethren  in  respect  to  their  feelings  and  reputa- 

[843 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES 

tlons,  rejoiced  in  their  successes  and  their  usefulness. 
I  never  saw  him  out  of  temper,  never  heard  him  utter 
a  harsh  or  censorious  remark.  He  never  thrust  himself 
forward,  but  was  more  disposed  to  stand  back  and  make 
room  for  others.  His  sermons  were  full  of  truth  clearly 
and  plainly  expressed.  In  their  delivery  he  was  earnest 
but  never  impassioned;  perhaps  more  animation  would 
have  improved  them.  His  prayers  in  public,  especially 
those  on  special  occasions,  were  very  remarkable  for 
their  ease,  their  felicitous  adaptations  in  all  respects  to 
the  circumstances  of  the  case,  and  the  happy  introduc- 
tion of  scriptural  quotations,  and  at  the  same  time  re- 
markable for  their  exemption  from  everything  in  the 
nature  of  effort  and  display,  and  for  their  simple  tone 
and  humble  contrition."  He  died  in  Winsted  on  his 
birthday,  June  lo,  1850,  seventy  years  of  age. 


REV.  CHAUNCEY  LEE,  D.D. 

The  Rev.  Chauncey  Lee,  D.D.,  a  son  of  the  Rev. 
Jonathan  Lee,  was  born  in  Salisbury,  Connecticut,  in 
1763,  and  was  graduated  at  Yale  in  1784.  He  was 
pastor  at  Sunderland,  Vermont,  from  1790  to  1797.  He 
became  pastor  in  Colebrook,  Connecticut,  in  February, 
1800,  and  continued  in  office  there  until  January,  1828. 
He  died  in  Hartwick,  New  York,  in  1 842.    His  son,  the 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

Rev.  Chauncey  G.  Lee,  was  pastor  at  Monroe,  Con- 
necticut, from  1 82 1  to  1826,  and  afterward  in  other 
Connecticut  churches.  His  grandson,  the  Rev.  Clarence 
Beebe,  was  a  missionary  in  Turkey.  I  used  to  hear 
Deacon  Abel  S.  Wetmore  of  Winchester  speak  of  Dr. 
Lee  from  personal  remembrance,  while  his  published 
books  and  local  traditions  show  him  to  be  a  man  of  too 
much  importance  to  pass  by  without  notice. 

He  began  authorship  with  a  new  decimal  arithmetic 
which  Thomas  Robbins,  in  the  mature  judgment  of 
eighteen  years,  pronounces  "pedantic."  I  do  not  know 
of  any  copy  now  in  use.  In  1 806  he  published  a  transla- 
tion of  the  Book  of  Job  in  the  form  of  an  epic  poem 
entitled  "The  Trial  of  Virtue."  The  influence  of  Mil- 
ton is  manifest  in  his  style.  The  book  had  considerable 
popularity,  and  is  creditable  both  for  its  scholarship  and 
Its  poetic  expression.  He  was  an  evangelist  of  marked 
success,  and  in  1824  published  a  volume  of  sermons 
forming  a  system  of  preaching  for  revival  purposes. 
This  series  of  sermons  was  accompanied  by  a  collection 
of  hymns,  composed  by  Dr.  Lee  himself,  to  reinforce 
the  Impression  of  the  preaching.  Sermons  and  hymns 
alike  seem  to  have  been  well  adapted  to  this  purpose. 
Deacon  Wetmore,  whose  own  religious  experience  had 
been  vitally  affected  by  Dr.  Lee's  preaching,  used  to 
repeat  to  me  sentence  after  sentence  from  a  sermon 
which  he  had  heard  as  a  young  man.    The  language  was 

nsen 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES 

remarkably  clear  and  impressive  and  could  hardly  have 
failed  to  be  clearly  understood  by  any  congregation. 
Outside  the  pulpit  Dr.  Lee  was  irrepressibly  humorous, 
but  the  sermons  gave  no  indication  of  it.  His  wife  was 
said  to  have  made  the  remark  that  when  she  saw  him 
outside  the  pulpit  she  often  thought  he  ought  never  to 
go  into  it,  and  that  when  she  listened  to  him  in  the 
pulpit,  it  seemed  as  if  he  ought  to  stay  there  always. 
We  read  in  Sprague's  "Annals" :  "On  one  public  occa- 
sion, at  the  dinner-table,  where  there  was  a  large  com- 
pany, he  indulged  his  passion  for  humor  to  such  extent 
as  to  produce  long-continued  and  convulsive  laughter. 
When  Mr.  Lathrop  of  Salisbury  said  afterward,  in  a 
tone  of  solemnity,  'I  think  we  have  been  indebted  to  you 
for  much  amusement,'  his  countenance  fell,  and  he  said, 
'Well,  my  dear  brother,  I  am  sorry,  I  am  sorry;  if  I 
have  done  wrong  I  hope  God  will  forgive  me.'  " 

I  will  venture  on  a  quotation  from  "The  Trial  of 
Virtue": 

My  friends,  deceitful  as  th'  inconstant  brook, 
With  smiling  fortune  smil'd :  with  it  forsook 
The  limpid  stream,  by  winter's  frost  congealed, 
Spread  to  the  eye  a  smooth  delightful  field  ; 
Firm  to  the  foot,  not  rocks  more  firm  and  fast, 
And  dreaming  fancy  thought  the  scene  would  last. 
But  short  th'  illusion, — ere  one  summer's  day. 
The  charm  is  fled,  the  ice  dissolves  away, 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

The  waters  swiftly  glide,  the  dream  is  o'er, 
The  rivulet  dries,  and  friendship  is  no  more. 
Hope,  fair  deceiver,  downward  to  the  deep. 
Floats  with  the  tide  and  leaves  the  wretch  to  weep. 


REV.  FREDERICK  MARSH 

The  Rev.  Frederick  Marsh  was  born  in  New  Hart- 
ford, September  i8,  1780.  He  prepared  for  college 
with  Mr.  Robbins  of  Norfolk,  graduated  at  Yale  in 
1805,  studied  theology  under  Dr.  Hooker  of  Goshen, 
preached  in  Winchester  from  the  beginning  of  1808, 
where  he  was  ordained  pastor  February  i,  1809,  and 
continued  in  active  service  until  February  i,  1846.  He 
continued  to  live  in  Winchester  until  his  death  in  Febru- 
ary, 1873,  preaching  occasionally  in  near-by  places. 

His  early  manhood,  spent  under  the  pastorate  of  Dr. 
Edward  Dorr  Griflin,  determined  his  religious  expe- 
rience and  his  theological  belief.  Dr.  Griffin  was  al- 
ways his  ideal.  What  Dr.  Griffin  had  preached  was  to 
him  the  eternal  and  unchangeable  truth  of  God.  He 
was  modest,  cautious,  painfully  conscientious,  a  pastor 
of  firm  and  enduring  faithfulness;  he  took  life  seriously, 
and,  according  to  tradition,  was  never  known  but  once 
to  make  a  facetious  remark  accompanied  by  a  smile.  In 
the  revivals  under  his  ministry  his  one  fear  was  that  he 
should  encourage  some  inquirer  to  indulge  in  a  false 

n883 


Frederick  Marsh 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES 

hope  and  think  himself  a  Christian  without  becoming 
such  in  reality. 

Knowing  that  the  whole  matter  was  in  the  hands  of 
God  and  had  been  settled  from  before  the  foundation 
of  the  world,  it  would  seem  a  little  inconsistent,  not  to 
say  cruel,  that  the  deluded  person  might  not  be  per- 
mitted a  little  comfort  here  before  facing  the  eternal 
reality.  But  Mr.  Marsh  did  not  look  at  it  in  that 
way.  It  is  said  that  the  death  of  a  child  in  early  infancy 
was  the  cause  of  a  long  period  of  deep  melancholy,  as  he 
could  find  no  solid  evidence  of  the  child's  salvation,  and 
was  greatly  burdened  at  the  possibility  that  he  was 
responsible  for  the  coming  into  being  of  one  who  was 
to  be  the  heir  of  endless  torment,  without  even  the 
opportunity  of  a  personal  choice  in  the  matter.  The 
question  was  discussed  at  length  before  a  ministers'  club 
of  that  day  of  which  Mr.  Marsh  was  a  member :  "Will 
those  who  die  in  infancy  be  saved?"  "After  a  full  dis- 
cussion the  meeting  was  agreed  that  probably  some  who 
die  in  infancy  are  saved."  The  meeting  was  held  in 
Plymouth,  May  31,  18 14.  The  careful  conclusion  of 
these  good  men  does  not  seem  to  have  brought  the  com- 
fort to  his  burdened  heart  that  we  might  think  it  ought 
to  have  done. 

Mr.  Marsh  was  an  expert  penman,  and  usually  had 
charge  of  the  records  of  Association  or  Consociation  in 
his  day.     It  is  a  pleasure  to  read  any  records  made  by 

1:893 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

his  hand.  His  tastes  were  historic  and  he  furnished 
valuable  manuscript  material  to  the  Connecticut  His- 
torical Society,  which  has  been  preserved  in  their  library 
at  Hartford.  In  the  beginning  of  my  ministry  in  Win- 
chester, Mr.  Marsh  was  usually  present  in  the  Sunday 
congregation.  His  appearance  was  saintly  beyond  that 
of  any  other  person  in  my  memory.  His  presence  was 
of  itself  a  sermon  and  a  benediction.  Dr.  Eldridge  of 
Norfolk  once  said  of  him :  "His  influence  over  his  breth- 
ren was  silent,  modest,  not  obtrusive;  not  so  much  that 
of  great  intellectual  power  as  of  sincerity,  truth,  self- 
sacrifice,  and  unfeigned  devotion.  No  jealousy  in  his 
mind  of  his  brethren,  if  they  had  gifts;  no  jealousy  of 
their  reputation,  if  they  acquired  it;  no  jealousy  of  their 
influence,  but  delighted  by  it  wherever  it  was  manifest- 
ing itself." 

When  he  passed  away  in  his  ninety-third  year  he  left 
behind  him  an  influence  that  will  not  perish  through  the 
ages.  It  is  worth  while  for  any  community  to  secure  the 
lifelong  presence  of  such  a  man.  Though  his  theology 
may  pass  away,  his  Christian  manhood  is  a  triumph  of 
faith,  the  value  of  which  will  endure  through  all 
changes. 

As  the  new  pastor,  I  was  always  treated  by  Mr. 
Marsh  with  the  utmost  kindness  and  confidence.  Judg- 
ing by  his  countenance,  my  preaching  was  often  a  puzzle 
to  him,  but  never  except  on  a  single  occasion  did  I  meet 

1:90] 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES 

with  the  slightest  expression  of  dissent  or  reproof  on 
his  part.  Knowing  that  he  had  passed  through  several 
great  revivals,  I  once  asked  him  what  he  thought  the 
best  time  of  year  to  plan  for  evangelistic  work  in  the 
parish.  A  look  of  pain  came  upon  his  face  as  if  he  had 
been  listening  to  blasphemy,  and  he  replied  solemnly, 
"When  God  sends  a  revival,  is  the  time  for  a  revival." 
He  believed  in  revivals,  and  by  his  own  report  six 
sevenths  of  those  whom  he  received  to  the  church  came 
into  the  Christian  life  through  revivals,  but  he  neither 
planned  for  revivals  nor  undertook  to  produce  them. 
They  came  in  answer  to  prayer  and  long  waiting  upon 
God.  It  was  his  part  to  apply  careful  tests  that  the 
genuineness  of  God's  working  might  be  assured;  to  be 
careful  to  suppress  tendencies  to  excitement  or  disorder; 
and  to  prevent  too  easy  or  careless  acceptance  of  the 
Christian  hope  on  the  part  of  the  converts.  In  1821, 
after  several  months  of  deep  feeling  and  anxiety  among 
his  young  people,  he  organized  with  much  hesitation  a 
young  people's  meeting  for  their  help  and  guidance, 
which  on  the  whole  he  regarded  as  having  beneficial 
results. 

Judging  from  the  characteristics  of  his  descendants, 
connected  with  occasional  incidents  related  of  himself, 
I  cannot  regard  him  as  having  been  destitute  of  humor. 
The  one  joke  remembered  of  him  was  that,  once  going 
into  a  room  where  the  ladies  of  the  parish  were  gathered 

DO 


THK  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

and  evidently  enjoying  themselves,  he  told  them  of  an 
ancient  scholar  who  had  discovered  Scripture  proof  that 
there  were  no  women  in  heaven,  quoting  from  the  eighth 
chapter  of  the  Revelation:  "There  was  silence  in 
heaven  for  about  the  space  of  half  an  hour."  His  re- 
straint was  largely  due  to  his  interpretation  of  the  say- 
ing of  Jesus,  "For  every  idle  word  that  men  shall  speak 
they  shall  give  account  in  the  day  of  judgment."  He 
evidently  regarded  it  as  a  condemnation  of  careless 
talking,  while  we  of  this  day  only  read  it  as  a  statement 
of  the  completeness  and  minuteness  of  the  judgment  of 
God,  which  misses  no  detail  of  our  lives. 

As  an  illustration  of  his  method  with  converts,  and  of 
the  type  of  religious  experience  looked  for  in  those  days, 
I  will  quote  in  condensed  form  an  account  of  the  conver- 
sion of  his  son,  a  deaf-and-dumb  boy  of  seventeen  years, 
as  it  was  written  by  Mr.  Marsh,  and  published  in  the 
Connecticut  Evangelical  Magazine  for  October,  1832. 
This  son,  Jonathan,  had  learned  to  read  and  write  and 
use  the  sign-language,  and  was  remarkably  intelligent, 
but  the  father  found  it  hard  to  be  sure  that  he  under- 
stood things  of  a  spiritual  order.  There  was  a  revival 
in  the  fall  of  1831,  and  for  a  week  or  two  he  had 
shown  deep  anxiety. 

"On  Sabbath  evening,  October  2d,  when  he  was  more 
particularly  conversed  with,  and  urged  to  immediate 
repentance,  he  became  deeply  impressed.     He  wept  for 

1:92: 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES 

his  sins  and  prayed  to  God.  On  Monday  morning  he 
retired  to  a  grove  for  an  hour  or  two,  and  then  to  the 
barn,  where  he  spent  the  day  fasting;  and  it  was  near 
night  before  he  could  be  persuaded  to  come  into  the 
house.  'Tuesday'  (he  says)  'I  felt  very  sorry,  for  my 
hard  heart  was  hard  to  repent.'  He  spent  four  days  in 
retirement  with  his  Bible.  Often  would  he  come  with 
his  slate  with  questions  like  these:  'How  shall  I  repent? 
My  heart  is  hard.  It  will  not  repent.  I  am  wretched 
and  unhappy.  I  wish  to  repent  sincerely.  How  shall 
I  ?'  Deep  solemnity  and  distress  were  settled  upon  his 
countenance,  and  we  hardly  dared  say  anything  to  him 
lest  we  should  make  some  wrong  impression  upon  his 
mind." 

About  noon  on  Friday  "he  came  to  me  with  the  ques- 
tions, 'Will  God  do  no  more?  Is  it  easy  to  repent?' 
He  was  told  that  none  but  God  could  help  him.  As  it 
stood  upon  his  slate,  this  remark  arrested  his  attention 
remarkably,  and  with  his  mind  intensely  fixed  upon  it, 
he  retired  to  his  room.  I  feared  to  say  one  word.  In 
the  distant  part  of  the  house  his  groans  were  heard. 
On  opening  the  door,  I  found  him  walking  the  room, 
his  face  suffused  with  tears.  He  took  little  notice  of 
any  one,  and  asked  no  more  questions,  but  seemed  to 
feel  that  the  controversy  was  between  God  and  his  own 
soul.  At  evening  he  appeared  calm  and  apparently 
cheerful.      On   being   asked   how   he   felt,   he   replied, 

1931 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

'Happy  a  little.'  From  answers  to  various  questions 
that  were  put  to  him  the  next  day,  we  began  to  cherish 
a  trembling  hope  that  through  riches  of  infinite  mercy 
he  had  been  brought  to  the  foot  of  the  cross,  and  that 
the  Holy  Spirit  had  taken  away  the  stony  heart  and 
given  a  heart  of  flesh.  Nothing  was  said  about 
hope,  or  that  would  lead  him  to  think  we  supposed 
there  was  any  saving  change.  Saturday  evening  his 
countenance  beamed  the  peace  that  dwelt  in  his  soul. 
To  the  question,  'Do  you  feel  more  careless  about  re- 
ligion than  you  did  yesterday?'  he  replied,  'I  feel  more 
proper,  and  think  that  it  is  a  precious  religion.'  He 
seemed  almost  in  ecstasies  while  reading  the  stanza  be- 
ginning with  'How  sweet  the  name  of  Jesus  sounds.' 
He  looked  about  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  and  expressed 
his  surprise  that  he  had  not  loved  God  before,  it  was  so 
easy  and  God  was  so  good.  Yet  he  often  said,  'I  think 
I  love  God  all,  but  I  fear  my  heart  is  deceitful.'  " 

This  trembling  hope  seems  to  have  been  about  as 
far  as  Mr.  Marsh  thought  it  safe  to  go  in  religious  ex- 
perience. It  was  about  the  utmost  that  he  dared  to  go 
in  the  expression  of  his  own  personal  faith,  until  a  few 
weeks  before  his  death. 


19M 


CHAPTER  VIII 


THIRD  PERIOD— MODERNISM 

ROM  about  i860  the  churches  and  minis- 
ters in  Litchfield  County  entered  upon 
a  third  period  of  development.  They 
could  no  longer  keep  to  themselves,  for 
the  great  current  of  the  world's  life  swept 
over  and  about  them  with  ever-increasing  force.  The 
growth  of  villages  along  the  railroads  brought  an  influx 
of  new  inhabitants  from  many  lands.  Foreign-born 
people  occupied  the  farms  left  behind  by  men  of  the  old 
New  England  stock.  Dwellers  in  the  cities  were  drawn 
by  the  purity  of  the  air  and  the  beauty  of  the  landscape 
to  find  a  summer  home  among  the  hills.  All  these 
people  brought  with  them  their  own  religious,  or  irre- 
ligious, ideals  and  customs.  The  earlier  war  between 
Calvinists  and  Arminians,  or  old  school  and  new  school, 
was  outworn  and  only  remembered  or  understood  by  a 

1:95] 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

few  veterans.  It  was  no  longer  a  question  of  Congre- 
gationalist,  Episcopalian,  Baptist,  or  Methodist.  The 
Roman  Catholics  were  present  in  multitudes.  Preach- 
ing was  called  for  in  French,  German,  Swedish,  and 
Italian.  The  negro  population  insisted  on  churches  of 
their  own. 

The  utmost  freedom  of  theological  thinking,  and  the 
largest  variety  in  ritual  and  method  of  worship,  came 
to  be  conceded  as  an  unquestioned  right.  The  whole 
trend  of  preaching  and  pastoral  service  was  toward 
cooperation,  with  the  thought  of  federation  becoming 
ever  more  prominent.  The  habit  and  training  of  the 
older  churches  still  called  for  men  of  ability  and  capacity 
for  leadership  in  their  pulpits.  The  newer  churches  of 
all  denominations  could  not  choose  but  make  the  same 
demand. 

I  do  not  plan  to  speak  of  living  men,  but  I  am  aware 
of  no  deterioration  in  the  character  and  standing  of  the 
Litchfield  County  pulpit.  There  were  men  of  the  past 
who  stood  out  with  a  prominence  to  which  we  can  fur- 
nish no  parallel  to-day.  There  is  a  closeness  of  asso- 
ciation with  the  outside  world  which  often  promotes  a 
more  rapid  change  of  pastorate.  There  is  an  inter- 
change of  persons  and  of  influence  which  prevents 
Litchfield  County  from  standing  out  with  the  separate- 
ness  of  identity  which  characterized  much  of  her  past 
history.    Her  children  are  in  other  places,  leavening  the 

L961 


THIRD  PERIOD-MODERNISM 

life  and  thought  of  the  nation,  but  we  are  not  prepared 
to  admit  any  signs  of  decadence  in  her  churches,  nor  in 
the  men  who  occupy  her  pulpits. 

Changes  have  been  great  in  methods  of  preparing 
sermons,  in  the  multiplicity  of  themes  selected  for 
preaching,  and  in  the  freedom  of  Biblical  interpreta- 
tion, or  the  following  out  of  personal  tastes  in  the 
presentation  of  the  Gospel.  Differences  of  belief,  and 
liberty  in  the  expression  of  those  differences,  are  ac- 
cepted without  rancor  or  bitterness.  The  minister  is 
recognized  as  a  leader  if  he  is  fitted  to  lead,  and  his 
message  is  listened  to  with  respect,  but  his  old-time 
official  authority  is  no  longer  recognized.  The  people 
have  come  into  their  inheritance  and  exercise  a  right  of 
thinking  and  acting  for  themselves,  whoever  may  be 
chosen  as  their  teacher  and  guide. 

There  is  a  kind  of  difference  in  the  churches  un- 
known to  the  earlier  times.  When  all  communities 
consisted  of  a  homogeneous  farming  population,  with 
here  and  there  a  man  conspicuous  for  wealth  or  social 
rank,  each  parish  might  have  its  local  pride  and  might 
develop  peculiarities,  but  the  churches  were  on  a  prac- 
tical equality  in  financial  standing  and  in  their  provision 
for  support  of  their  ministers.  In  these  later  days 
many  rural  parishes  have  fallen  off  greatly  In  popula- 
tion and  in  financial  ability;  besides,  heterogeneous 
and  unasslmilated  elements  prevent  the  social  unity  of 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

other  days.     Salaries  of  the  clergy  have  in  many  cases 
been  greatly,  sometimes  painfully,  reduced. 

Over  against  this  fact,  wealth  has  greatly  increased 
in  neighboring  villages,  and  their  churches  are  able  to 
offer  comparatively  large  salaries.  The  financial  gain 
combined  with  the  larger  opportunity  offers  to  minis- 
ters of  ability  an  inducement  which  may  clearly  mean 
duty.  Hence  the  clergy  no  longer  stand  on  an  equal 
footing  in  regard  to  the  development  and  maintenance 
of  either  personal  or  official  influence.  None  the  less 
it  is  my  firm  conviction  that  even  under  the  least  favor- 
able conditions  the  clergy  of  this  county  still  have  an 
opportunity  for  the  higher  manhood  that  no  worldly 
wealth  can  measure. 


1:983 


CHAPTER  IX 

MORE  PERSONAL  SKETCHES 


REV.  JOSEPH  ELDRIDGE,  D.D. 

HE  great  man  of  my  early  ministry  was 
Dr.  Joseph  Eldridge  of  Norfolk,  and 
the  many  years  that  have  since  passed  by 
have  taken  away  nothing  from  my  belief 
in  his  greatness.  He  was  not  the  only 
great  man  or  great  minister  in  the  history  of  Norfolk, 
but  the  beneficent  impress  of  his  influence  in  that  town 
and  in  Litchfield  County  is  something  we  cannot  afford 
to  forget. 

The  Rev.  Joseph  Eldridge,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Yar- 
mouth, Massachusetts,  July  8,  1804,  graduated  at  Yale 
In  1829,  was  installed  pastor  at  Norfolk  April  25, 
1832,  resigned  his  pastorate  November  i,  1874,  and 
died  March  31,  1875. 

[:99i 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

He  did  not  impress  one  as  a  student  of  the  academic 
sort,  intrenched  in  learned  subtleties,  nor  did  he  prepare 
orations  which  displayed  eloquence  or  grandeur  of  dic- 
tion. He  was  a  man  of  large  mind  and  extensive  in- 
formation, but  his  greatness  seemed  most  of  all  due  to 
his  large-heartedness.  He  had  a  ready  grasp  of  practi- 
cal questions  because  of  his  deep  interest  in  everything 
that  affected  the  welfare  of  men  and  women.  He  loved 
his  kind  and  studied  humanity,  not  as  a  scientific  prob- 
lem, but  as  a  means  of  understanding  and  helping  the 
living,  concrete  persons  whom  he  saw  on  every  side  in 
need  of  personal  sympathy.  It  was  a  matter  of  course 
that  the  younger  ministers  went  to  him  for  advice  and 
assistance  in  their  difficulties.  They  knew  he  loved 
them  and  understood  them,  and  that  he  had  a  compre- 
hensive grasp  of  the  problems  that  perplexed  them. 
The  utter  simplicity  and  sincerity  of  the  man  went 
straight  to  the  root  of  all  practical  questions.  He  saw 
at  once  the  thing  that  was  just  and  kind,  and  insisted 
that  only  that  should  be  done,  and  done  at  once.  Any- 
thing oppressive  or  unfair  or  lacking  In  brotherly  kind- 
ness aroused  his  indignation,  and  he  had  an  Intense 
power  of  Indignation.  Flippancy  and  irreverence 
brought  instant  reproof,  but  the  common  frailties  and 
failures  of  his  brethren  met  with  his  ready  forbearance, 
and  his  sympathy  was  available  In  every  trouble.  He 
seldom  failed  to  be  present  at  meetings  of  the  ministers 


Joseph  Eldridge 


MORE  PERSONAL  SKETCHES 

or  churches,  and  was  easily  first  in  every  gathering, 
though  seemingly  the  only  person  unconscious  of  the 
fact.  Many  of  the  younger  pastors  learned  from  him 
ministerial  secrets  of  great  value. 

I  will  mention  but  one  nugget  of  advice  which  has 
many  times  recurred  to  my  memory.  It  was  that  if 
ever  I  felt  called  upon  to  preach  the  wrath  of  God,  I 
should  do  it  conscientiously  and  thoroughly,  but  ten- 
derly, not  mixing  any  of  my  own  wrath  with  it ;  to  feel 
sure  In  such  case  that  "the  wrath  of  man  worketh  not 
the  righteousness  of  God." 

The  commemoration  sermon  by  Dr.  Noah  Porter, 
President  of  Yale,  gives  a  fuller  outline  of  the  man 
and  his  work  than  could  have  place  in  these  sketches, 
but  I  feel  it  necessary  to  express  my  own  sense  of  his 
great  worth.  All  who  knew  him  had  a  high  ideal  of 
Christian  manhood  put  before  them. 


REV.  ADAM  REID,  D.D. 

The  Rev.  Adam  Reid,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Wishaw, 
Lanarkshire,  Scotland,  January  4,  1808.  He  was  grad- 
uated at  Glasgow  University  in  1827,  was  Trustee  of 
Williams  College  from  1847  to  1869,  and  received  the 
degree  of  D.D.  from  Union  College  in  1854. 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

He  began  preaching  in  Salisbury,  Connecticut,  No- 
vember, 1836,  was  ordained  pastor  in  September,  1837, 
resigned  his  work  in  September,  1877,  after  forty-one 
years  of  service,  and  died  of  apoplexy  November  2, 
1878,  at  the  age  of  nearly  seventy-one  years. 

He  was  renowned  for  ability  and  eloquence,  and  quite 
early  in  his  pastorate  received  calls  to  Rochester,  Balti- 
more, Providence,  New  York,  Hartford,  and  Boston. 
His  work  was  mainly  in  his  study  and  in  his  pulpit. 
It  has  been  said  that  he  never  repeated  sermons,  and 
always  had  new  sermons  written  ahead  for  future 
emergencies,  so  that  at  the  time  of  his  resignation  he 
had  about  forty  manuscript  sermons  on  hand  which  had 
never  been  used,  and  that  he  continued  writing  new 
ones  from  habit  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  In  his 
later  years,  at  least,  he  seemed  exceedingly  shy,  and 
seldom  attended  gatherings  of  ministers  or  churches 
outside  his  parish,  although  great  effort  was  made  to 
secure  his  presence.  He  invariably  declined  to  preach 
at  ordination  or  Installation  services,  or  at  meetings  of 
the  association  to  which  he  belonged.  Dr.  Eldridge 
could  sometimes  get  him  to  a  meeting  at  Norfolk,  when 
at  the  dinner-table  he  shone  with  brilliancy,  but  It  was 
impossible  to  draw  him  out  In  the  public  meetings  where 
free  discussion  was  going  on. 

I  have  sat  by  his  side  on  such  occasions,  when  his 
interest  In  everything  said  was  intense.     He  overflowed 

[1023 


MORE  PERSONAL  SKETCHES 

in  private  suggestions  with  regard  to  questions  he 
wanted  asked  or  points  to  be  urged,  but  would  not  per- 
sonally enter  the  debate.  It  was  said  of  him  by  a  friend 
of  his  earlier  days:  "He  spake  as  one  overmastered  by 
the  truth  he  was  setting  forth,  and  thinking  not  of 
himself,  but  of  the  message  he  was  bearing.  He  had 
the  power  of  clothing  the  simplest  truths  in  forms  of 
beauty  and  majesty,  and  his  delivery  was  singularly 
impressive  from  the  deep  earnestness  which  charac- 
terized it.  His  whole  frame  quivered  with  emotion, 
and  the  tones  of  his  voice  stirred  and  thrilled  the  very 
depths  of  the  heart.  His  whispers  were  audible  to  the 
farthest  parts  of  the  house,  and  touched  and  subdued 
the  spirit  beyond  the  loudest  declamation."  In  his  fare- 
well sermon  he  expressed  his  belief  that  no  pastorate 
had  ever  been  more  peaceful  than  his,  absolutely  no 
jars,  quarrels,  or  difficulties,  but  perfect  sympathy  be- 
tween pastor  and  people. 


REV.  LAVALETTE  PERRIN,  D.D. 

The  Rev.  Lavalette  Perrin,  D.D.,  was  born  in 
Vernon,  Connecticut,  May  15,  18 16,  and  graduated  at 
Yale  in  1 840.  He  was  ordained  pastor  at  Goshen,  Con- 
necticut, in  1843,  and  dismissed  September  4,  1857. 
After  a  pastorate  of  twelve  years  in  New  Britain,  he 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

returned  to  Litchfield  County,  and  was  pastor  of  the 
Third  Church  in  Torrington  from  July  i,  1872,  until 
his  death  in  1889. 

Yale  gave  him  the  degree  of  D.D.  in  1869,  and  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Corporation  from  1882.  He  was 
Treasurer  of  the  National  Council  from  1880,  and 
Annalist  of  the  Connecticut  Conference  from  1876.  He 
was  a  man  of  fine  personal  appearance  and  impressive 
manner,  with  conservative  tastes  and  a  great  liking  for 
systematic  and  orderly  methods.  Given  to  large  en- 
thusiasms, his  culture  and  training  kept  his  powers 
under  perfect  control;  while  he  gained  his  ends  by 
patience  and  persistence,  his  action  was  always  marked 
by  due  caution  and  judicious  balance.  It  was  largely 
through  his  influence  that  the  General  Conference  of 
the  Congregational  Churches  of  Connecticut  was  organ- 
ized in  1 867.  His  zeal  for  the  closer  and  more  effective 
union  of  the  churches  led  him  also  to  secure  the 
establishment  at  Hartford  of  a  Memorial  Hall  to  be 
a  recognized  center  for  the  official  life  and  activity  of 
Congregationalism  in  the  State.  He  was  instrumental 
in  raising  the  fund  for  this  purpose.  His  desire  to  give 
the  same  churches  an  organ  for  promoting  closer  ac- 
quaintance and  fellowship  led  him  to  become  editor  of 
the  Religious  Herald  from  1876  to  1881. 

In  every  way  he  was  a  power  for  good,  not  only  in 
the  churches  of  which  he  was  pastor,  but  widely  in  the 

[1043 


Lavalette  Perrin 


MORE  PERSONAL  SKETCHES 

State  and  country.  His  work  was  always  constructive 
and  eminently  judicious.  He  planted  no  seeds  of 
trouble  or  division.  He  was  a  model  in  the  drawing  up 
of  statements  or  resolutions  for  the  action  of  councils  in 
cases  where  there  were  elements  of  faction  or  ill  feeling. 
He  could  fittingly  call  attention  to  everything  that  was 
good  or  pleasant  on  either  side,  and  give  the  utmost 
credit  that  honesty  would  allow,  while  quietly  minimiz- 
ing the  unpleasant  things  by  suggesting  a  larger  point 
of  view.  He  will  long  be  remembered  with  affection 
and  gratitude  by  many  in  the  churches  of  Litchfield 
County,  and  by  some  with  ardent  admiration  and  en- 
thusiasm as  representing  just  what  a  pastor  should  be. 
He  and  his  wife  died  together  In  the  Park  Hotel  disas- 
ter at  Hartford.  One  son  who  survived  him  is  a  pro- 
fessor in  Yale  University. 


REV.  WILLIAM  ELLIOTT  BASSETT 

One  of  the  most  interesting  and  useful  men  whom  it 
has  ever  been  my  privilege  to  know  was  the  Rev.  Wil- 
liam E.  Bassett,  a  man  for  the  last  eighteen  years  of 
his  short  life  intimately  connected  with  the  churches  of 
Litchfield  County.  He  was  born  in  Derby,  Connecticut, 
May  24,  1829,  graduated  from  Yale  College  in  1850, 
and  from  Yale  Theological  Seminary  in  1854.     After 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

pastorates  in  Central  Village  and  North  Manchester, 
Connecticut,  he  was  acting  pastor  and  pastor  in  Warren, 
Connecticut,  from  1863  to  1875,  and  in  Bethlehem, 
Connecticut,  from  1879  to  1881.  He  preached  in 
North  Canaan  in  1881,  and  died  at  Norfolk  November 
6,  1 88 1.  He  was  a  slender  man  of  medium  height, 
homely  in  features  and  awkward  in  gestures.  He  was 
possessed  of  a  wide  range  of  information,  and  thought 
deeply  on  many  things,  but  his  interest  in  life  was  in- 
tensely practical.  His  sermons  were  thought  out  in 
every  detail,  were  original,  fresh,  and  had  a  definite 
practical  aim  in  every  part. 

After  preaching  two  sermons  a  week  in  Warren  for 
twelve  years,  he  resigned  because  he  thought  less  than 
two  sermons  on  Sunday  demoralizing  to  the  congrega- 
tion, and  he  could  not  repeat  his  old  sermons,  each  of 
which  had  so  distinctive  a  purpose  that  he  felt  it  would 
be  recognized  by  former  hearers  and  discounted  accord- 
ingly. His  people  were  willing  to  do  with  one  sermon 
a  week,  or  to  hear  the  old  ones  over,  but  he  could  not  be 
induced  to  stay  when  his  health  seemed  insufficient  to 
fulfil  his  own  ideals.  He  was  Registrar  of  the  Litch- 
field North  Association,  and  a  leader  in  all  special  work 
of  the  churches.  When  local  conferences  of  the 
churches  were  organized  to  carry  out  the  purpose  of  the 
General  Conference  of  Connecticut,  Mr.  Bassett  drew 
up  the  constitution.     When  the  inspiration  for  any  new 


MORE  PERSONAL  SKETCHES 

thing  came  from  Dr.  Joseph  Eldridge  or  Dr.  Lavalette 
Perrin,  Mr.  Bassett  was  always  depended  on  to  furnish 
the  criticism,  draw  up  the  details  of  the  plan,  and  make 
it  workable.  He  was  indefatigable  in  making  things 
work,  and  cheerfully  kept  himself  out  of  sight  behind 
others,  so  far  as  practicable.  Many  churches  and  min- 
isters were  greatly  indebted  to  him,  and  some  of  us 
found  him  exceedingly  lovable. 


REV.  HIRAM  EDDY,  D.D. 

Hiram  Eddy  was  born  in  Pittsfield,  Vermont,  March 
17,  1 8 13.  He  attended  both  Hamilton  and  Oberiin 
colleges,  and  was  ordained  at  Sherman,  New  York, 
June  II,  1839.  After  various  pastorates  in  New  York 
State,  he  began  service  at  East  Canaan,  Connecticut,  in 
1853.  He  went  from  his  pastorate  there  to  Winsted, 
Connecticut,  where  he  was  installed  January  9,  1861, 
and  dismissed  October  16,  1865.  After  pastorates  in 
Milwaukee,  V^isconsin,  and  Jersey  City,  New  Jersey, 
he  returned  in  1881  to  Canaan,  Connecticut,  where  he 
died  November  30,  1893. 

I  quote  the  following  description  from  an  address  of 
the  Rev.  John  Calvin  Goddard:  "As  a  preacher.  Dr. 
Eddy  held  a  commanding  place.     He  riveted  attention 

Cioy;] 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

from  the  moment  of  his  appearance.  His  voice  was 
wide  of  compass  and  deep  of  volume.  He  could  upon 
occasion  roar  as  a  lion  robbed  of  its  prey,  and  again  the 
tones  would  sink  to  the  power  that  is  not  of  the  whirl- 
wind, nor  of  the  thunder,  but  of  a  still  small  voice.  His 
tread  was  martial.  He  could  not,  like  Ahab,  go  softly 
before  the  Lord.  He  tramped  the  platform  like  an 
armed  man.  ...  I  liked  to  see  him  charge  the  plat- 
form from  the  aisle,  his  jaw  set,  his  eye  fixed,  his  man- 
ner confident,  as  when  Jonathan  said  to  his  armor- 
bearer,  'Come  up  after  me ;  for  the  Lord  hath  delivered 
them  into  our  hands' ;  and  it  was  he  who  left  behind  him 
for  the  men  of  the  pulpit  that  inspiring  utterance,  'It  is 
worth  while  to  have  lived,  if  only  for  the  joy  of  preach- 
ing one  true  sermon.'  " 

During  his  Winsted  pastorate,  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  War  led  him  to  go  to  the  front  as  chaplain  of  the 
Second  Connecticut  Volunteers.  He  was  taken  prisoner 
at  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  and  spent  a  year  in  rebel 
prisons.  It  is  said  that  his  prison  experience  changed 
his  hair  from  deep  black  to  white.  In  the  years  when 
I  knew  him,  his  gigantic  figure,  crowned  with  a  halo  of 
bushy  hair,  pure  white,  made  an  impression  of  personal 
grandeur  and  majesty  seldom  equaled.  He  was  a  man 
of  heavenly  visions,  priest  and  prophet  by  temperament 
and  experience. 

I  wish  to  quote  here  from  one  of  his  own  sermons, 
Don 


MORE  PERSONAL  SKETCHES 

both  as  a  sample  of  his  style,  and  as  suggestive  of  the 
lesson  taught  by  his  own  closing  years : 

"The  leaf  bursts  forth  into  singing  when  the  frost 
begins  to  settle  on  it  and  the  cold  winds  to  shake  it. 
It  causes  the  frost  to  contribute  to  its  beauty.  It  uses 
frosts  and  storms  in  the  same  way  and  to  the  same  end 
that  it  does  the  sunshine  and  the  summer  shower. 
What  a  lesson!  If  you  will  hold  still,  the  frost  will 
beautify  you,  the  frost  of  age,  the  frost  of  adversity. 
.  .  .  Wouldst  thou  have  more  beauty  grow  out  in  thy 
character?  Then  let  the  pinching  frosts  of  affliction 
and  adversity  do  their  work.  Wait  until  the  forces  are 
strong  enough,  and  the  beauties  of  grace  will  show  them- 
selves all  over  thy  soul,  when  through  these  afflictions 
the  love  of  Jesus  comes,  glowing  and  shining,  warming 
and  softening,  like  the  morning  flood-lights  of  heaven. 
Wait,  and  the  white  lilies  of  purity  will  bloom  in  thy 
heart,  and  the  morning-glories  of  joy  and  thankfulness 
will  climb  along  the  corridors  of  thy  soul,  and  the  plants 
of  righteousness  shall  bloom  there  in  ever-increasing 
profusion;  but,  like  some  natural  fruits  and  beauties, 
the  frost  is  necessary  to  this  result — patiently  wait." 

A  vision  of  Jesus  Christ  dominated  and  glorified  his 
life. 


[;io93 


CHAPTER  X 


THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

HE  Introduction  of  the  Episcopal  Church, 
or,  as  it  was  called  at  first,  the  Church 
of  England,  into  what  is  now  the  county 
of  Litchfield  preceded  the  organization 
of  the  county  in  1751.  This  introduc- 
tion was  especially  due  to  three  causes:  First,  there 
were  many  persons  coming  into  this  part  of  the  country 
from  England  who  "at  home,"  as  they  were  accustomed 
to  say,  were  members  of  the  Church  of  England,  whose 
love  for  its  services,  its  customs,  its  principles,  had  suf- 
fered no  diminution  from  their  change  of  residence. 
Whatever  reasons  had  moved  them  to  come  to  this 
country,  they  did  not  come  to  escape  from  ecclesiastical 
burdens,  nor  with  the  idea  of  finding  a  freedom  which 
had  been  denied  to  them  in  their  earlier  abode.  That 
which  they  remembered  was  not  religious  tyranny  and 


THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

forms  of  worship  as  a  burden  to  their  conscience,  creeds 
demanding  too  great  an  exercise  of  faith.  Their 
thoughts  went  back  to  religious  homes  where  they  had 
been  at  peace.  They  felt  as  the  Psalmist  did  when  he 
cried,  "If  I  forget  thee,  O  Jerusalem,  let  my  right  hand 
forget  her  cunning."  It  was  natural,  then,  that  as  soon 
as  they  had  settled  down  to  their  work  of  reclaiming  the 
wilderness  and  had  become  acquainted  with  their  neigh- 
bors, they  should  seek  out  those  whose  sentiments  ac- 
corded with  their  own;  also  that  little  circles  should 
meet  on  Sunday  morning,  in  which  one  of  their  numbers 
should  read  the  familiar  words  of  Morning  Prayer  and 
Litany,  and  probably  read  a  printed  sermon  drawn  from 
the  rich  treasury  of  English  theology,  which  treasury 
has  never  been  lacking  in  words  full  of  grave  wisdom 
and  of  comfort  for  the  soul  burdened  with  its  sense  of 
weakness  and  sin,  and  so  the  next  step  was  to  secure  the 
occasional  visit  of  some  clergyman  of  that  church  to 
conduct  its  services  and  to  administer  the  sacraments 
held  in  such  high  esteem. 

It  was  in  1740,  in  the  town  of  Plymouth,  that  the 
services  of  the  Church  of  England  were  first  brought 
into  this  county.  Three  years  before,  in  1737,  nineteen 
petitioners  living  in  Plymouth,  who  were  accustomed  to 
attend  the  Congregational  Church  in  Waterbury, 
desired  for  themselves  the  privilege  of  holding  services 
during  three  winter  months  in  their  own  town. 

C"0 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

The  second  of  the  three  causes  to  which  the  growth 
of  the  English  Church  in  this  country  could  be  attributed 
had  now  begun  to  be  felt.  By  the  middle  of  the  eigh- 
teenth century  there  had  been  built  in  the  limits  of  Con- 
necticut fourteen  Episcopal  churches,  and  there  were 
perhaps  five  thousand  persons,  young  and  old,  who  were 
connected  with  them.  These  people  felt  that  the  law 
of  the  State  compelling  them  to  pay  taxes  for  building 
houses  of  worship  and  supporting  the  clergy  of  the 
State  religion  was  a  burden.  Accordingly,  they  sought 
relief  from  the  General  Assembly.  When,  after  con- 
siderable discussion  and  delay,  they  were  relieved  from 
this  burden,  it  was  found  that  persons  not  very  strong 
in  their  attachment  to  the  Congregational  order  sought 
to  join  the  Episcopalians,  not  out  of  regard  for  the 
principles  of  that  church,  but  because  they  were  not 
taxed  so  heavily.  From  this  probably  arose  the  cus- 
tom of  "certificating  off"  from  the  Established  Church. 
Many  of  these  certificates  are  still  in  existence  and  are 
variously  expressed,  one  reading:  "I  hereby  certify  that 
I  have  left  the  Church  of  God  and  joined  the  Episco- 
palians." It  is  to  be  hoped  that  this  man,  as  was  the 
case  with  many  who  thus  became  identified  with  the 
Episcopal  Church,  found  that  he  was  not  left  in  such 
alienation  from  the  "Mother  of  us  all"  as  his  words 
might  lead  us  to  suppose  that  he  expected  to  be. 

The   third   cause   which   may   be    assigned    for   the 

n"2] 


THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

growth  of  the  Episcopal  Church  was  the  feeling,  which 
widely  prevailed,  that  the  preaching  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Whitefield,  and  the  excitement  created  by  it,  was  lead- 
ing to  dangerous  extremes.  The  Rev.  George  White- 
field,  who  had  been  admitted  to  deacon's  orders  in  the 
twenty-second  year  of  his  age,  came  to  this  country, 
landing  at  Savannah,  in  the  year  1738.  He  is  said  to 
have  drawn  multitudes  to  hear  his  eloquent  sermons. 
After  about  four  months  he  returned  to  England,  and 
although  a  report  had  been  made  that  he  had  followed 
a  somewhat  erratic  course  while  in  America,  and  not 
conformed  very  closely  to  the  doctrine,  discipline,  and 
worship  of  the  church  which  had  given  to  him  his 
commission,  he  was  admitted  to  priest's  orders.  On 
his  second  visit  to  this  country,  and  especially  in  New 
England,  he  put  aside  all  regard  for  the  authority  and 
teaching  of  the  Church  of  England.  At  first  his  elo- 
quence and  the  spiritual  doctrines  set  forth  by  him  won 
him  a  cordial  welcome,  and  it  is  said  that  the  sermon 
preached  by  him  when  leaving  Boston  was  listened  to  by 
twenty  thousand  people,  but  under  the  enthusiasm 
aroused  many  adopted  his  methods  and  practices  who 
had  not  his  ability.  Under  their  preaching,  which  soon 
outran  all  efforts  of  civil  and  ecclesiastical  authority  to 
restrain  them,  much  strife  and  discord  were  created. 
There  were  cases  where  societies  were  split  and  became 
hostile  camps.     When  Whitefield,  two  or  three  years 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

later,  proposed  to  revisit  New  England,  his  plan  was 
not  well  received.  A  meeting  of  the  Consociation  of 
Congregational  Ministers  of  New  Haven  County,  held 
in  1745,  published  a  pamphlet  disapproving  of  White- 
field's  itineracy,  his  doctrines — his  whole  course,  in  fact. 
The  General  Association  of  Connecticut  said  it  was 
"needful  to  declare  that  if  he  should  make  his  progress 
through  this  Government,  it  would  by  no  means  be  ad- 
visable for  any  of  their  ministers  to  admit  him  into  their 
pulpits,  or  for  any  of  their  people  to  attend  his  min- 
istrations." 

During  these  disturbances  members  of  the  Church  of 
England  were  strengthened  in  their  attachment  to  their 
own  church,  and  found  that  her  sober  and  spiritual  wor- 
ship was  attracting  new  attention,  and  a  very  large  num- 
ber of  Congregationalists,  distrusting  the  extravagances 
and  disorders  of  their  day,  found  in  the  reverential  wor- 
ship of  the  Church  of  England  and  in  the  Scriptural 
character  of  her  doctrines  that  comfort  which  seemed 
to  be  denied  to  them  elsewhere.  By  their  accession  to 
this  church,  a  new  impulse  was  given  to  her  growth. 
Indeed,  Dr.  Johnson  of  Stratford,  writing  to  a  friend 
in  London  describing  the  effect  which  had  been  wrought 
among  the  people  of  the  State  by  the  disturbances  and 
division  to  which  reference  has  been  made,  said:  "It  has 
occasioned  such  a  growth  of  the  Church  in  this  town, 
as  well  as  in  many  other  places,  that  the  church  will 


THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

not  hold  us,  and  we  are  obliged  to  rebuild  or  else  en- 
large" (Beardsley's  "History  of  the  Episcopal  Church 
in  Connecticut,"  page  133). 


BETHLEHEM 

The  parish  of  Christ  Church,  Bethlehem,  was  organ- 
ized in  the  year  1806,  through  the  agency  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Daniel  Burhans  of  Newtown.  Services  were  first 
held  in  the  Center  School-house,  but  in  1829  a  church 
was  built  which  is  still  in  use.  The  following  clergymen 
were  at  different  times  in  charge  of  the  parish:  from 
1807  to  18 14,  the  Rev.  Russell  Wheeler;  from  18 14  to 
1 8 16,  the  Rev.  Joseph  D.  Welton;  from  1822  to  1827, 
the  Rev.  Sturges  Gilbert;  in  1828,  the  Rev.  Isaac  Jones; 
in  1830,  the  Rev.  Russell  Wheeler;  in  1832,  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Scott;  in  1834,  the  Rev.  John  Dowdney;  from 
1835  to  1837,  the  Rev.  William  Watson;  from  1837 
to  1839,  the  Rev.  T.  W.  Snow;  from  August,  1839,  to 
Easter,  1844,  the  Rev.  Isaac  H.  Tuttle;  from  1B44  to 
1847,  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Coe;  from  1847  to  1848,  the 
Rev.  William  H.  Frisbie;  from  1848  to  1851,  the  Rev. 
J.  S.  Covell;  in  1852,  the  Rev.  Dr.  J.  D.  Berry;  in 
1853,  the  Rev.  N.  W.  Monroe;  from  1854  to  April, 
1855,  the  Rev.  James  R.  Coe;  in  1857,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
J.  D.  Berry  and  the  Rev.  Edward  P.  Gray;  from  1858 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

to  1 86 1,  the  Rev.  John  N.  Marvin;  from  1861  to 
August,  1865,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Frederick  Holcomb;  from 
September,  1865,  as  lay  reader  until  his  ordination  in 
April, 1 8 66,  and  then  until  February,  1870,  the  Rev. 
A.  N.  Lewis.  The  journals  of  Convention  show  that 
no  rector  was  in  charge  in  the  years  1870,  1871,  and 
1872.  From  1873  to  1874,  the  Rev.  X.  Alanson  Wel- 
ton;  from  1878  to  1883,  the  Rev.  James  B.  Robinson; 
from  1884  to  April,  1890,  the  Rev.  Ralph  H.  Bowles; 
from  1890  to  July,  1895,  the  Rev.  J.  Chauncey  Linsley; 
from  1895  to  1897,  the  Rev.  J.  T.  Hargrave;  from 
1898  to  1899,  the  Rev.  Edward  M.  Skagen;  from  1900 
to  1903,  the  Rev.  L.  Robert  Sheffield;  from  1903  as 
lay  reader  until  his  ordination  in  1906,  and  then  until 
July,  1907,  the  Rev.  Sidney  H.  Dixon.  At  present  the 
parish  is  without  a  rector,  the  Rev.  Alexander  Hamilton 
officiating  on  Sundays. 


BRIDGEWATER 

The  organization  of  St.  Mark's  Church,  Bridgewater, 
dates  from  April  23,  18 10.  No  church  edifice  was 
built  before  1835.  The  church  services  were  held  up 
to  that  date  in  private  houses  by  visiting  clergymen. 
Since  1839  the  following  named  persons  have  served 
as  rectors:   from   1839  to   1840,   the  Rev.  Joseph  S. 


u 


i-, 

C 
O 

U 


THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

Covell;  from  1840  to  1841,  the  Rev.  Abel  Nichols; 
from  1 841  to  1842,  the  Rev.  Joseph  H.  Nichols;  from 
1842  to  1844,  the  Rev.  George  S.  Gordon;  from  1844 
to  1846,  the  Rev.  William  Atwill;  from  1847  to  1850, 
the  Rev.  Abel  Ogden;  from  1852  to  1853,  the  Rev. 
Abel  Nichols;  from  1854  to  1856,  the  Rev.  Merritt  H. 
Wellman;  from  1857  to  1859,  the  Rev.  William  H. 
Cook;  from  i860  to  1864,  the  Rev.  James  Morton; 
from  1865  to  1868,  the  Rev.  Dr.  H.  D.  Noble;  from 
1 8 69  to  1 87 1 ,  the  Rev.  X.  Alanson  Welton ;  from  1 8 72  to 
1879,  the  Rev.  Dr.  W.  B.  Colburn;  from  1880  to  1882, 
the  Rev.  Dr.  G.  V.  C.  Eastman;  from  1885  to  1888,  the 
Rev.  William  E.  Hooker;  from  1889  to  1895,  the  Rev. 
George  Henry  Smith;  from  1897  to  1898,  the  Rev. 
H.  L.  Everest;  from  1898  to  1899,  the  Rev.  A.  T.  De 
Learsay;  from  1899  to  1902,  the  Rev.  Wilfrid  H. 
Dean;  from  November  23,  1902,  the  present  rector,  the 
Rev.  Gideon  D.  Pond. 


CANAAN 

The  parish  of  Christ  Church  was  organized  in  the  year 
1846,  and  a  church  building  was  erected  that  same  year. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Fash  had  charge  of  the  parish  at  that 
time.  The  Rev.  George  L.  Foote,  the  Rev.  William 
Atwill,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Reynolds,  the  Rev.  A.  H.  Nichols 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

of  Salisbury  held  services  in  Canaan  from  the  year  1846 
to  1850,  although  none  of  them  was  in  charge  as  rector. 
In  1854  the  Rev.  H.  V.  Gardner  was  rector  from 
Easter,  1854,  to  Easter,  1855.  Then  for  two  years, 
from  1856  to  1858,  the  Rev.  H.  S.  Atwater  was  in 
charge,  officiating  every  other  Sunday.  He  died 
December  28,  1879,  ^g^d  eighty-two  years.  After  him 
came  the  Rev.  Clayton  Eddy,  from  i860  to  1861 ;  the 
Rev.  William  Williams,  1863;  the  Rev.  H.  C.  Stowell, 
1865.  The  Rev.  Elisha  Whittlesey,  who  for  two  years 
was  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church,  became  rector 
of  Christ  Church  June  25,  1871,  and  resigned  July  15, 
1877.  The  Rev.  H.  I.  Bodley,  from  July  15,  1877, 
to  March,  1882;  the  Rev.  Francis  Barnett,  from  1882 
to  1899;  the  Rev.  Milton  H.  Mill,  from  September  7, 
1899,  to  February  28,  1905.  The  present  rector  took 
charge  September  17,  1905. 


EAST  PLYMOUTH 

The  parish  known  as  St.  Matthew's,  East  Plymouth, 
was  first  started  in  1787.  Very  little  is  known  of  its 
early  history.  From  1795  until  1805  it  was  in  the  care 
of  the  Rev.  Alexander  Viets  Griswold,  who  afterward 
became  the  first  bishop  of  the  "Eastern  Diocese,"  which 
comprised  the  whole  of  New  England,  Connecticut  ex- 


THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

cepted.  From  1812  to  18 17  the  Rev.  Roger  Searle 
exercised  his  office  here  in  connection  with  Plymouth. 
From  1818  to  1828  the  Rev.  Rodney  Rossiter  was  in 
charge;  in  1841,  the  Rev.  F.  B.  Woodward;  from  1846 
to  1847,  ^^^  ^ev.  H.  V.  Gardner;  at  Easter,  1848, 
Collis  I.  Potter,  as  lay  reader,  was  in  charge  until  1850; 
in  1851-52,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Frederick  Holcomb;  from 
1858  to  1859,  the  Rev.  James  Morton;  in  1862,  the 
Rev.  Lewis  Green;  from  1865  to  1867,  the  Rev.  F.  B. 
Woodward;  from  1872  to  1877,  the  Rev.  Collis  L 
Potter;  from  1883  to  1886,  the  Rev.  William  E.  John- 
son; from  1886  to  1888,  the  Rev.  J.  D.  Gilliland;  from 
1888  to  1892,  the  Rev.  William  E.  Hooker;  from  1893 
to  1895,  the  Rev.  James  Gammack,  LL.D.;  from  1896 
to  1899,  the  Rev.  George  Henry  Smith;  from  1901  to 
1907,  the  Rev.  J.  D.  Gilliland. 


HARWINTON 

This  parish  was  organized  probably  about  1787.  For 
ten  years  it  shared  with  St.  Matthew's  Church,  East 
Plymouth,  the  labors  of  the  Rev.  Alexander  V.  Gris- 
wold,  from  1795  till  1805.  From  that  time  for  several 
years  services  were  doubtless  held  here,  and  the  presence 
of  its  lay  delegates  in  the  Convention  of  the  diocese 
is  noted  in  its  Journal,  but  it  does  not  give  the  names  of 

i:"93 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

the  rectors.  The  Rev.  G.  C.  V.  Eastman  was  there 
in  1834;  in  1843  ^"^  1844,  the  Rev.  William 
Zell;  in  1846  and  1847,  the  Rev.  H.  V.  Gardner; 
from  1 85 1  to  April,  1856,  the  Rev.  Origen  P.  Hol- 
comb;  in  1857  and  1858,  the  Rev.  James  Morton;  in 
1862,  the  Rev.  Lewis  Green;  in  1866,  the  Rev.  H.  C. 
Stowell;  from  1868  to  1870,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Frederick 
Holcomb.  For  several  years  the  Rev.  J.  Chauncey 
Linsley  of  Torrington  has  given  the  people  a  service 
occasionally  during  the  summer. 


KENT 

St  Andrew's  Parish  was  organized  February  22, 
1808,  but  services  of  the  Episcopal  Church  had  been 
held  there  before  that  date  and  a  church  edifice  had 
been  erected.  This  is  evident  from  the  fact  that  the 
meeting  to  organize  as  a  parish  was  warned  to  assemble 
at  the  Episcopal  Church.  The  Rev.  Sturges  Gilbert 
was  in  charge  from  1808  to  18 16,  the  Rev.  George  B. 
Andrews  from  18 19  to  1832.  The  absence  of  full 
records  for  many  years  makes  it  impossible  to  give  the 
names  of  the  clergy  who  officiated  in  St.  Andrew's  from 
this  time  until  1854,  when  the  Rev.  H.  S.  Atwater 
became  rector.  He  resigned  in  1863.  The  Rev.  X. 
Alanson  Welton  from    1866  to    1869;   from    1871    to 

[120] 


THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

1875,  the  Rev.  Elisha  Whittlesey;  from  1876  to  1885, 
the  Rev.  Isaac  C.  Sturges;  from  1885  to  1886,  the  Rev. 
Alban  Richey;  from  1886  to  1888,  the  Rev.  George 
W.  Griffith;  from  1888  to  1895,  the  Rev.  William  F. 
Bielby;  from  1895  to  1899,  the  Rev.  Howard  Mc- 
Dougal;  from  1900,  the  present  rector,  the  Rev.  George 
Henry  Smith. 


LIME  ROCK 

The  parish  of  Trinity  Church,  Lime  Rock,  separated 
from  St.  John's  Church,  Salisbury,  and  organized  as 
Trinity  Church  May  3,  1875.  The  first  rector  was  the 
Rev.  Millidge  Walker,  who  assumed  the  charge  of  the 
parish  February  27,  1876,  remaining  till  1884.  From 
1885  to  1895,  the  Rev.  Richard  F.  Putnam;  from  1895 
to  1898,  the  Rev.  Henry  Tarrant;  from  1900  to  1905, 
the  Rev.  Richmond  H.  Gesner;  from  1905,  the  present 
rector,  the  Rev.  George  W.  Griffith. 


LITCHFIELD 

The  introduction  of  the  services  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land into  the  town  of  Litchfield  was  due  to  Mr.  John 
Davies,    who   came   to   this   country    from    Kinton    in 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

Devonshire,  England.  He  himself  and  his  family  were 
all  strongly  attached  to  the  mother  church.  Mr.  Davies, 
finding  that  a  number  of  persons,  offended  by  the  dis- 
turbances caused  by  Mr.  Whitefield's  course,  were  well 
disposed  toward  the  services  of  the  English  Church, 
gathered  them  together  to  consult  with  them  in  regard 
to  introducing  it  into  Litchfield.  Dr.  Johnson  of  Strat- 
ford, Dr.  Cutler  of  West  Haven,  and  Dr.  Beach  of 
Newtown,  on  invitation,  came  to  Litchfield,  held  the 
Prayer-Book  services,  and  administered  the  sacraments. 
Through  the  liberality  of  Mr.  Davies  especially,  al- 
though assisted  by  others,  a  church  was  built  in  1748. 
Probably  the  first  clergyman  who  officiated  in  Litchfield 
with  any  regularity  was  the  Rev.  Solomon  Palmer.  He 
was  a  native  of  Branford  and  Avas  graduated  at  Yale 
College  in  1729.  He  was  called  to  take  charge  of  the 
Congregational  Church  in  Cornwall  in  174 1.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  salary  voted  to  him,  Mr.  Palmer,  as  minis- 
ter, was  entitled  to  "a  right  of  land" — about  one  fifty- 
third  share  of  the  town,  probably  about  six  hundred 
acres.  Without  doubt  he  derived  from  the  cultivation 
of  this  land  a  large  part  of  his  maintenance — certainly 
a  full  supply  of  fuel;  although  then,  as  now,  this  could 
not  be  done  without  much  hard  labor.  For  over  twelve 
years  he  ministered  to  this  flock  to  their  satisfaction, 
and  it  was  a  great  surprise  to  them  when,  in  1754,  Mr. 
Palmer  gave  up  his  ministry  in  Cornwall  on  the  ground 

[;i22] 


THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

that  he  had  come  to  the  conclusion  that  in  order  to  give 
validity  to  his  ministry  he  must  receive  episcopal  ordina- 
tion. Soon  after  this  he  went  to  England,  and 
having  been  ordained  by  the  Bishop  of  Bangor,  he 
returned  to  this  country.  He  was  appointed  missionary 
for  this  county  by  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of 
the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts.  Mr.  Palmer,  supposing 
that  the  grant  of  land  made  to  him  in  Cornwall  when 
he  became  its  first  minister  was  his  personal  property, 
attempted  on  his  return  to  exercise  his  right  in  it.  This 
right,  however,  was  disputed  by  the  town  of  Cornwall, 
which  claimed  that  he  had  forfeited  his  right  by  re- 
nouncing the  Congregational  ministry.  A  lawsuit  was 
brought  against  him  to  recover  the  land,  the  claim  being 
that  he  had  broken  a  covenant  made  with  the  town. 
He  was  summoned  "to  appear  before  the  county  court 
to  be  held  at  Litchfield  in  and  for  the  county  of 
Litchfield  on  the  fourth  Tuesday  of  April  next, 
then  and  there  to  answer  ...  in  a  plea  of  a 
broken  covenant."  His  answer  was  that  by  settling 
among  the  people  as  a  teacher  he,  "by  an  act  of  the 
Assembly,  became  a  proprietor,  and  the  patent  was  and 
is  absolute  and  unconditional."  When  Mr.  Palmer 
expressed  a  willingness  to  relinquish  some  of  his  de- 
mands, a  compromise  was  made.  Among  the  papers 
of  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  are 
found  letters  which  he  later  sent  to  its  secretary,  giving 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

the  amount  of  his  expenses  in  the  matter.  These 
amounted  to  twenty-six  pounds  fourteen  shillings  and 
one  penny.  His  letter  also  contains  a  request  to  the 
society  to  send  to  the  mission  at  Litchfield  "a  Folio 
Bible  and  Common  Prayer  Book."  Mr.  Palmer  gave 
most  of  his  time  to  Litchfield,  but  in  the  year  1763  he 
went  to  New  Haven  to  take  charge  of  Trinity  Church. 
He  remained  in  New  Haven  for  three  years,  and  in 
1766  came  back  to  Litchfield,  where  he  oflliciated  until 
the  time  of  his  death  jji  the  year  1 771— one  of  the  three 
clergymen  who  have  passed  from  their  earthly  ministry 
to  the  joys  of  Paradise  while  connected  with  this  parish. 
During  the  three  years  which  Mr.  Palmer  spent  in 
New  Haven,  the  Litchfield  Mission  was  served  by  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Davies.  He  was  a  grandson  of  Mr.  John 
Davies,  through  whose  active  interests  services  of  the 
Church  of  England  were  first  held  in  Litchfield. 
Thomas  was  born  in  Herefordshire,  England,  on  the 
2 1  St  of  December,  1736,  O.  S.  When  his  father, 
John  Davies,  Jr.,  came  to  this  country,  he  lived  in 
what  is  now  a  part  of  the  town  of  Washington,  near 
Romford  Station.  The  neighborhood  is  still  known  as 
"Davies'  Hollow,"  and  some  members  of  the  family 
were  buried  in  the  cemetery  a  few  rods  from  Romford 
Station.  Thomas  remained  at  home,  getting  such  in- 
struction as  he  could,  until  he  entered  Yale  College  in 
1754.    He  pursued  the  usual  college  course  and  received 


THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

his  degree  as  Bachelor  of  Arts  September,  1758.  He 
spent  three  years  in  a  course  of  study  as  a  candidate  for 
orders.  Of  course  he  went  to  England  for  his  ordina- 
tion. He  was  made  deacon  on  Sunday,  August  23, 
1 76 1,  by  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  admitted 
to  priest's  orders  the  next  day.  In  the  abstract  of  the 
proceedings  of  the  Propagation  Society  for  the  year 
1 76 1,  mention  is  made  of  the  "Rev.  Mr.  Davies,  Itin- 
erant Missionary  in  Litchfield  County  and  parts  adja- 
cent." He  is  spoken  of  as  "a  hopeful  young  man, 
strongly  recommended  by  Dr.  Johnson,  Mr.  Palmer 
and  others  as  truly  worthy  of  the  society's  notice  and 
encouragement."  He  received  his  appointment  from 
the  society  in  the  following  words:  "Agreed  the  i8th 
September,  1761,  that  Mr.  Davies  be  appointed  Mis- 
sionary to  the  Churches  of  New  Milford,  Roxbury, 
Sharon,  New  Preston  and  New  Fairfield  in  Litchfield 
County,  Connecticut."  In  this  commission  the  mission 
at  Litchfield  is  not  mentioned,  but  that  it  was  very 
soon  after  included  by  formal  appointment  or  by  Mr. 
Davies's  zeal  appears  from  the  fact  that  a  letter  sent  to 
him  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of 
the  Gospel  informs  him  that  two  quarto  Bibles  and  two 
folio  Common  Prayer  Books  had  been  sent  to  him,  one 
for  the  church  in  Sharon,  and  the  other  for  the  church 
in  Litchfield.  Mr.  Davies  took  up  his  residence  in  New 
Milford.    He  probably  never  lived  in  Litchfield,  though 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

he  was  the  missionary  in  charge,  and  it  was  where  he 
most  earnestly  and  successfully  labored.  This  is  evident 
from  the  fact  that  in  1763  he  reported  that  there  were 
sixty-one  families  under  his  care  and  in  these  families 
were  fifty-seven  communicants.  His  private  diary  also 
records  the  names  of  many  persons  baptized  there  dur- 
ing his  ministry.  Two  or  three  times  this  diary  records 
his  officiating  on  "St.  Pompion's  Day,"  by  which  title 
he  facetiously  named  the  annual  Thanksgiving  Day, 
for  a  reason  of  which  all  dwellers  in  Litchfield  County 
will  recognize  the  appropriateness.  Mr.  Davies's 
earthly  ministry  was  all  too  short.  His  frequent  jour- 
neys, mostly  on  horseback,  through  winter  storms  and 
summer  heat,  executing  the  duties  of  his  office  whenever 
opportunity  offered,  told  too  fatally  on  a  constitution 
not  over-strong.  On  the  12th  of  May,  1766,  in  less 
than  six  years  after  his  ordination,  in  the  thirtieth  year 
of  his  life,  he  passed  from  earth  and  was  buried  in 
New  Milford.  A  monument  erected  to  his  memory  in 
the  New  Milford  cemetery  bears  an  inscription  ending 
thus:  "Vita  bene  acta  jucundissima  est  recordatio."  It 
was  the  opinion  of  the  Rev.  Truman  Marsh,  who  later 
was  rector  at  New  Milford  and  also  at  Litchfield,  that 
Mr.  Davies's  ability  as  a  preacher  and  organizer,  with 
his  affable  and  winning  manners,  would  have  secured 
for  him,  had  he  lived,  the  honor  of  being  the  first 
American  bishop. 

[126] 


THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Davies,  the  Rev.  Solomon 
Palmer  returned  to  Litchfield,  where  he  preached  until 
the  time  of  his  death  in  1771. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolutionary  War  the  mis- 
sion at  Litchfield  was  in  charge  of  the  Rev.  James 
Nichols,  a  native  of  Waterbury.  He  was  graduated 
from  Yale  College  in  1771.  He  was  the  last  man  who 
went  from  Connecticut  to  England  to  secure  ordination. 
It  is  not  known  that  he  resided  in  Litchfield  during  the 
war,  probably  not,  for  the  church  records  show  that  for 
the  greater  part  of  that  time  services  were  rendered  by 
lay  readers.  However,  after  peace  was  declared,  Mr. 
Nichols  was  in  Litchfield  and  renewed  the  services  of 
the  church.  A  little  later  he  presented  an  address  to 
the  General  Assembly  asking  for  the  appointment  of  a 
prominent  churchman,  Mr.  Daniel  Landon,  as  justice 
of  the  peace,  "wishing,"  as  the  petition  reads,  "the 
favor  of  a  justice  of  the  peace  to  adorn  the  Society." 

After  peace  was  declared  the  connection  of  the  mis- 
sion at  Litchfield  with  the  society  in  England,  which 
had  so  long  contributed  to  its  support,  came  to  an  end. 
On  the  26th  of  October,  1784,  "The  First  Episcopal 
Society  of  Litchfield"  was  organized  and  secured  the 
services  as  lay  reader  of  Mr.  Ashbel  Baldwin,  a  candi- 
date for  holy  orders.  Mr,  Baldwin  was  graduated 
from  Yale  College  in  1776,  and  for  a  part  of  the  time 
during  the  war  was  stationed  at  Litchfield  as  a  quarter- 

D27: 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

master  In  charge  of  army  supplies.  He  was  made 
deacon  at  the  first  ordination  held  by  Bishop  Seabury 
after  his  return  from  Scotland,  where  he  had  been 
consecrated  bishop.  This  ordination  was  held  at  Mld- 
dletown,  August  3,  1785.  Mr.  Baldwin  remained  in 
Litchfield  until  1793.  He  was  Secretary  of  the  Con- 
vention of  the  Diocese  of  Connecticut  for  thirty  years, 
and  of  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  of  the 
General  Convention  for  twelve  years.  He  died  in  1846, 
in  his  eighty-ninth  year. 

This  parish  had  an  uneventful  history  during  the 
nineteenth  century.  About  the  beginning  of  It  the  work 
in  the  three  villages  of  Litchfield,  Bantam,  and  Milton, 
which  up  to  this  time  had  been  in  the  charge  of  one 
man,  was  divided.  St.  Michael's,  at  the  center,  de- 
manded the  time  and  energy  of  one  man,  and  the  work 
at  Bantam  and  Milton  required  the  services  of  another. 
But  the  three  parishes  are  still  one  ecclesiastical  society, 
and  they  have  an  equal  share  In  the  income  of  invested 
funds.  In  St.  Michael's,  Litchfield,  the  succession  has 
been  as  follows :  the  Rev.  Mr.  Baldwin,  In  charge  from 
1785  to  1793;  the  Rev.  Dr.  David  Butler,  1794  to 
1799;  the  Rev.  Truman  Marsh,  from  1799  to  1829; 
the  Rev.  Isaac  Jones  (associate  rector),  from  18 12  to 
1826;  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  S.  Stone  (associate  rector), 
from  1826  to  1829;  the  Rev.  William  Lucas,  1829  to 
1832;  the  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Fuller,  from  1832  to  1837 


St.  Michael's,  Litchfield 


THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

and  from  1845  to  1849;  the  Rev.  Dr.  William  Payne, 
from  1838  to  1845;  the  Rev.  Dr.  Benjamin  W.  Stone, 
from  1849  to  1 851;  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  J.  Bran- 
dagee,  from  1851  to  1854;  the  Rev.  Junius  M.  Willey, 
from  1855  to  1858;  the  Rev.  H.  N.  Hudson,  from 
1858  to  i860;  the  Rev.  William  S.  Southgate,  from 
i860  to  1864;  the  Rev.  William  Stevens  Perry, 
from  1864  to  1869  (afterward  Bishop  of  Iowa)  ;  the 
Rev.  Dr.  C.  S.  Henry,  from  1870  to  1873;  the  Rev. 
G.  M.  Wilkins,  from  1874  to  1879;  the  Rev.  Dr.  S.  O. 
Seymour,  from  1879  to  1881 ;  the  Rev.  Dr.  L.  P.  Bissell, 
from  1882  to  1893.  In  1893  Dr.  Seymour  again  took 
charge  and  is  still  the  rector. 

The  following  clergymen  have  held  the  two  parishes 
of  Bantam  and  Milton  as  one  charge:  the  Rev.  David 
G.  Tomlinson,  from  1831  to  1835;  the  Rev.  Amos 
Beach,  from  1836  to  1837;  the  Rev.  Hilliard  Bryant, 
from  1837  to  1840;  the  Rev.  Emery  M.  Porter,  from 
September,  1842,  to  1843;  the  Rev.  Frederick  D.  Har- 
riman,  from  1848  to  1850;  the  Rev.  George  W.  Nich- 
ols, from  1850  to  1851 ;  the  Rev.  Asa  Griswold,  from 
January,  1852,  to  November,  1852;  the  Rev.  Daniel  E. 
Brown,  from  1853  to  1857;  the  Rev.  John  R.  Williams, 
from  1858  to  i860;  the  Rev.  J.  A.  Wainwright,  from 
i860  to  1861 ;  the  Rev.  Dr.  J.  D.  Berry,  from  1864  to 
1866;  the  Rev.  William  L.  Peck,  from  1866  to  1871 ; 
the  Rev.  Hiram  Stone,  from  1873  to  1903;  the  Rev. 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

J.  H.  Jackson,  from  1904  to  1905;  the  Rev.  John  O. 
Ferris,  from  1905  to  1908 ;  the  Rev,  Clarence  H,  Beers, 
the  present  rector,  from  March  29,  1908. 


MARBLEDALE 

This  parish  was  organized  in  1784.  It  was  called  at 
that  time  and  until  1857  New  Preston.  The  first  notice 
which  our  printed  journals  give  is  in  1793,  where  it  is 
recorded  that  the  parish  of  New  Preston  had  not 
adopted  in  full  the  Constitution  of  the  Diocese  of 
Connecticut.  Evidently  they  soon  acceded  to  the  re- 
mainder, for  their  delegates  were  present  at  the  Conven- 
tion held  in  1797,  and  later  in  1801,  1802,  1803,  and 
in  1807,  when  it  reported  as  its  grand  levy  $8300,  there 
being  at  that  time  only  six  other  parishes  in  the  diocese 
reporting  a  larger  "grand  list."  In  1809  and  18 10  the 
Rev.  Benjamin  Benham  had  charge  of  the  parish;  from 
1 8 13  to  1 8 16,  the  Rev.  Sturges  Gilbert;  from  1820  to 
1826,  the  Rev.  George  B.  Andrews;  in  1827,  the  Rev. 
Ezra  Kellogg;  in  1829,  the  Rev.  Harry  Finch;  in  1832, 
the  Rev.  H.  S.  Atwater;  in  1836  and  1837,  the  Rev. 
Enoch  Huntington,  rector  of  St.  John's,  New  Milford; 
from  August,  1839,  to  1843,  the  Rev.  George  S.  Gor- 
don; from  August,   1846,  to  1848,  the  Rev.  William 


THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

Long;  from  1849  to  June,  1853,  the  Rev.  James  L. 
Scott,  and,  after  an  interval  of  a  year,  from  July,  1854, 
to  1867;  ^rom  August,  1868,  to  November,  1869,  the 
Rev.  Henry  C.  Randall;  from  Easter,  1870,  to  Septem- 
ber, 1872,  the  Rev.  Charles  Husband;  in  1873,  the  Rev. 
J.  N.  Marvin;  from  1875  to  1882,  the  Rev.  WiUiam  L. 
Peck;  from  1883  to  1885,  the  Rev.  Robert  L.  Mathi- 
son;  in  1889,  the  Rev.  J.  D.  Gilliland;  from  1890  to 
1893,  the  Rev.  George  A.  Alcott;  in  1894,  the  Rev. 
Reuben  B.  Whipple;  in  1895,  the  Rev.  Edward  T. 
Mathison;  from  July,  1896,  to  1906,  the  Rev.  Thomas 
S.  Ockford;  from  December,  1906,  the  present  rector, 
the  Rev.  William  E.  Hooker. 


NEW  MILFORD 

The  Rev.  Stanley  Griswold,  pastor  of  the  Congre^ 
gational  Church  in  New  Milford,  states  in  his  "Century 
Sermon"  that  there  were  churchmen  in  the  town  from 
its  settlement  in  1707.  There  is,  however,  no  record  of 
any  separate  congregation  or  regular  services  for  many 
years.  After  the  Rev.  John  Beach  had  established  the 
services  of  the  Church  of  England  in  Newtown,  fifteen 
miles  distant,  in  1732,  many  of  the  church  families  in 
New  Milford  used  to  journey  to  Newtown  on  Saturdays 
to  attend  Sunday  services.    To  accommodate  these  fami- 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

lies  the  Rev.  Mr.  Beach  began  services  in  New  Milford 
in  1742,  sending  Mr.  Barzilla  Dean  as  a  lay  reader. 
The  services  were  held  in  a  private  house. 

The  first  church  edifice  was  built  in  1744,  and  the 
congregation  remained  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Beach  until  1754,  when  a  resident  minister  was  secured, 
the  Rev.  Solomon  Palmer.  After  five  years  Mr.  Palmer 
removed  to  Litchfield  and  was  succeeded  in  1762  by  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Davies.  The  ministry  of  Mr.  Davies 
was  a  brief  one,  the  span  of  his  life  being  but  thirty 
years.  In  four  years  of  his  ministry  in  New  Milford, 
however,  he  seems  to  have  accomplished  much,  for  the 
congregation  outgrew  the  church  building,  and  work 
was  begun  upon  a  new  and  larger  one.  Mr.  Davies 
was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Richard  (or  Richard 
Samuel)  Clarke,  who  remained  in  charge  for  twenty 
years.  The  new  church  building  was  so  far  completed 
that  services  were  held  in  it;  but  the  stormy  days  pre- 
ceding the  Revolutionary  War  and  of  the  war  itself 
were  not  propitious  for  the  Church  of  England  in  the 
colony,  and  the  church  building  was  not  finally  com- 
pleted until  1793.  Mr.  Clarke  was  a  Tory  in  political 
conviction,  and  after  struggling  against  many  discour- 
agements resigned  In  1787  and  went  to  Nova  Scotia. 
For  a  time  the  church  was  closed. 

In  1790  regular  services  were  again  maintained  under 
the  rectorship  of  the  Rev.  Truman  Marsh.     The  ten 


THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

years  of  his  ministry  were  years  of  quiet  growth  and 
strengthening.  The  church  was  completed  and  conse- 
crated by  Bishop  Seabury  in  1793. 

In  1799,  to  the  great  regret  of  his  congregation,  Mr. 
Marsh  relinquished  his  labors  in  New  Milford  and  re- 
moved to  Litchfield. 

The  parish  was  now  to  experience  a  test  even  more 
severe  than  that  of  the  days  of  the  Revolution.  The 
colonies,  having  become  independent  of  Great  Britain, 
could  no  longer  look  to  the  great  English  missionary 
society  of  the  English  Church,  as  they  had  done,  to  find 
and  help  maintain  their  clergy,  and  so  few  were  the 
clergy  at  this  time  that  in  spite  of  great  effort  the  parish 
could  not  secure  a  minister  for  many  years.  The  fact 
that  it  survived  shows  how  great  was  its  latent  strength. 
At  last,  on  Easter  Day,  March  29,  1807,  Mr.  Benjamin 
Benham,  a  candidate  for  holy  orders,  was  secured.  Mr. 
Benham  was  ordained  priest  in  August,  1808,  and  con- 
tinued in  charge  of  the  parish  for  nearly  twenty  years. 

Mr.  Benham  was  followed  by  the  Rev.  Enoch  Hunt- 
ington, who  bears  the  honorable  record  of  having  been 
rector  of  St.  John's  Parish  longer  than  any  other  clergy- 
man. During  his  rectorship,  which  lasted  until  1848, 
a  new  church  was  built  in  1837,  which  still  stands, 
though  used  now  for  commercial  purposes.  To  Mr. 
Huntington's  long  and  devoted  services  the  parish  of 
to-day  owes  much  of  its  strength. 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

For  a  few  years  at  this  period  of  its  history  the  parish 
experienced  frequent  changes  of  rectors. 

The  Rev.  Cyrus  Munson  took  charge  in  June,  1848, 
and  died  the  following  August.  He  was  buried  on  the 
day  that  had  been  set  for  his  wedding-day. 

The  Rev.  W.  H.  Rees  began  his  work  here  January 
II,  1849,  and  resigned  April  2,  1850,  to  accept  work 
in  Branford,  Connecticut. 

The  Rev.  G.  B.  Hayden  supplied  the  parish  for  a 
year,  but  declined  to  take  permanent  charge. 

The  Rev.  D.  P.  Sanford  began  his  rectorship  in 
August,  1 85 1,  and  resigned  in  1853  to  accept  a  parish 
in  Brooklyn,  New  York. 

The  Rev.  John  W.  Hoffman  became  rector  February 
I,  1854,  and  resigned  at  Easter,  1856. 

After  this  trying  period  of  eight  years,  in  which  five 
different  men  had  ministered  to  the  parish,  there  suc- 
ceeded another  long  period  of  rest  and  growth  under  the 
faithful  ministry  of  the  Rev.  C.  G.  Acly,  whose  rector- 
ship dated  from  August,  1856,  to  March,  1876.  Dur- 
ing this  time  many  improvements  were  made  and  the 
number  of  communicants  greatly  increased. 

After  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Acly,  the  parish  was  not 
long  in  securing  another  minister,  for  on  May  i,  1876, 
the  Rev.  A.  S.  Clark  took  charge  and  remained  as  rector 
until  October  27,  1879. 

In  less  than  a  month  after  the  resignation  of  Mr. 

D343 


THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

Clark,  another  rector  was  called,  the  Rev.  Edward  L. 
Wells,  D.D.  By  him  was  started  the  project  of  building 
a  new  stone  church.  Plans  were  drawn  and  accepted, 
but  before  work  was  begun  Dr.  Wells  died  in  1880, 
having  been  rector  less  than  one  year. 

The  Rev.  Edward  R.  Brown  succeeded  him  and  en- 
tered with  great  vigor  upon  the  work  of  building  a  new 
church.  Owing  largely  to  his  enthusiasm  and  deter- 
mination, a  beautiful  granite  church  was  built  on  Gothic 
lines,  seating  over  five  hundred  people.  It  was  com- 
pleted and  paid  for  by  the  congregation  within  two 
years,  and  was  consecrated  March  15,  1883.  In  1890, 
after  nine  years  of  indefatigable  parish  work,  Mr. 
Brown's  health  broke  down,  and  he  resigned  the  rector- 
ship. 

The  Rev.  E.  P.  Sanford  succeeded  Mr.  Brown,  and 
took  charge  of  the  parish  in  1891.  He  was  greatly  be- 
loved by  his  congregation,  who  mourned  his  early  death 
in  1895. 

The  present  rector  is  the  Rev.  John  F.  Plumb,  who 
took  charge  April  28,  1895. 

In  thus  tracing  the  history  of  the  parish  from  the 
early  days  to  the  present,  giving  little  more  than  names 
and  dates  of  rectorships,  one  feels  that  one  would  like 
to  write  a  real  history  of  the  parish  and  speak  of  the 
devoted  lives  of  laymen  and  women,  who  constituted 
the  true  life  and  strength  of  the  parish  through  all 

1:13s] 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

vicissitudes,  but  that  would  constitute  a  volume  in  itself, 
and  must  be  omitted  here.  With  more  than  a  century 
and  a  half  of  vigorous  life  behind  it,  the  parish  to-day 
stands  ready  to  meet  the  problems  of  the  present  and 
the  future,  confident  that  God,  who  has  led  it  hitherto, 
will  lead  it  ever  forward  to  greater  usefulness  in  making 
known  to  men  his  righteousness  and  his  kingdom. 

In  November,  1885,  a  congregation  under  the  name  of 
All  Saints  was  organized,  a  stone  church  having  been 
built,  largely  as  a  memorial  of  Judge  David  C.  Sanford. 
In  December,  1885,  the  Rev.  John  A.  Crockett  became 
minister  In  charge,  and  remained  until  October,  1888. 
At  Easter,  1889,  the  Rev.  Frank  B.  Draper  took  the 
charge.  In  1891  the  congregation  of  All  Saints  became 
an  organized  parish  in  union  with  the  Diocese  of  Con- 
necticut, the  Rev.  Frank  B.  Draper  rector,  which  posi- 
tion he  held  until  June  2,  1901.  From  1901  to  1906, 
the  Rev.  Cranston  Brenton;  from  1906  to  1907,  the 
Rev.  Marmaduke  Hare,  M.D.;  for  a  few  months  in 
1908,  the  Rev.  Jacob  A.  BIddle,  when  the  Rev.  Frank 
B.  Draper,  the  present  rector,  was  again  elected. 

NORTHFIELD 

This  parish  was  organized  as  early  as  1793;  still,  little 
of  its  early  history  is  on  record.     At  different  times, 


THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

namely,  in  1816,  1817,  1824,  1825,  1831,  and  1832, 
the  Rev.  Frederick  Holcomb  officiated  here;  in  1834, 
the  Rev.  James  Keeler.  In  1835-36  the  Rev.  William 
Watson  was  in  charge;  from  1837  to  1839,  the  Rev. 
T.  W.  Snow;  from  1839  to  1844,  the  Rev.  Isaac  H. 
Tuttle;  from  1844  to  1846,  the  Rev.  Frederick  Hol- 
comb; in  1847-48,  the  Rev.  Dr.  J.  D.  Berry;  in 
1848-49,  the  Rev.  George  W.  Nichols;  from  April, 
1 85 1,  to  January,  1852,  the  Rev.  Asa  Griswold;  from 
1853  to  Easter,  1861,  the  Rev.  Frederick  Holcomb; 
from  1862  to  1863,  the  Rev.  Lewis  Green;  from  1864 
to  1867,  the  Rev.  H.  C.  Stowell;  from  Easter,  1868,  to 
Easter,  1869,  the  Rev.  C.  C.  Adams;  from  1872  to 
1876,  the  Rev.  William  L.  Bostwick.  From  1880 
to  1883  the  Rev.  S.  O.  Seymour,  rector  at  Litchfield, 
had  the  oversight  of  the  parish,  a  lay  reader  having  the 
Sunday  services.  From  1885  to  1889,  the  Rev.  D.  L. 
Sanford;  in  1890-91,  the  Rev.  William  E.  Hooker. 
From  1892  to  1900  the  Rev.  A.  T.  Parsons  of 
Thomaston  was  in  charge;  from  1900  to  1901,  the 
Rev.  George  Buck;  from  Easter,  1902,  the  present 
rector,  the  Rev.  Adelbert  P.  Chapman. 

PINE  MEADOW 

St.  John's  Parish,  Pine  Meadow,  in  the  town  of  New 
Hartford,  was  organized  November  20,   1850.     The 

1:137] 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

first  church  edifice  was  burned  December  23,  1859.  A 
new  church  was  built,  and  the  first  service  was  held  in 
it  on  Christmas  Eve,  1861.  The  rectors  have  been: 
from  Easter,  1851,  to  July,  1857,  the  Rev.  John  H. 
Betts;  from  April,  1858,  to  May,  i860,  the  Rev.  Enoch 
Huntington;  from  November,  1861,  to  October,  1862, 
the  Rev.  Myron  A.  Johnson;  from  November,  1862,  to 
March,  1863,  the  Rev.  I.  S.  Judd;  from  May,  1863, 
to  April,  1865,  the  Rev.  DeLancy  G.  Rice;  from  1866 
to  1868,  the  Rev.  Jesse  C.  Heald;  from  April,  1869,  to 
May,  1880,  the  Rev.  John  H.  Betts;  from  1880  to 
1882,  the  Rev.  Thomas  A.  Porter;  from  1882  to  1887, 
the  Rev.  C.  W.  Colton;  from  1887  to  1890,  the  Rev. 
T.  D.  Martin,  Jr.;  from  1890  to  1893,  the  Rev.  R.  B. 
Whipple;  from  1895  to  1898,  the  Rev.  Herbert  M. 
Smith;  from  1899  to  1904,  the  Rev*.  Henry  Tarrant; 
from  1904,  the  Rev.  Henry  M.  Stanley,  the  present 
rector. 


PLYMOUTH 

It  was  in  1740  that  the  services  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land were  first  brought  into  this  town.  Three  years  be- 
fore, in  1737,  nineteen  petitioners  living  in  Plymouth, 
who  were  accustomed  to  attend  the  Congregational 
Church  in  Waterbury,  desired  for  themselves  the  privl- 


St.  Peter's.  Plvmouth 


THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

lege  of  holding  services  during  three  winter  months  in 
their  own  town.  So,  in  1739,  they  were  incorporated 
into  a  parish  by  the  name  of  Northbury.  They  formed 
an  ecclesiastical  society  and  erected  a  building  in  which 
services  were  held  on  Sunday,  while  on  week-days,  in  a 
room  on  the  second  story,  a  school  was  kept.  The  min- 
ister, the  Rev.  Samuel  Todd,  was  not  altogether  accept- 
able, and  finally  eleven  out  of  the  nineteen  proprietors 
of  the  building  declared  for  the  Church  of  England. 
They  also  took  possession  of  the  building,  and  by  a  vote 
excluded  the  services  of  Mr.  Todd.  The  ejected  pro- 
prietors received  a  promise  of  aid  in  building  another 
house,  and  when  they  did  so  this  promise  is  said  to  have 
been  redeemed  in  a  manner  entirely  satisfactory  to  them. 
The  first  church  edifice  was  built  in  "The  Hollow," 
as  Thomaston  was  then  called.  The  mission  before  the 
Revolution  was  served  by  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Theophilus 
Morris,  James  Lyon,  Richard  Mansfield,  James  Scovell, 
and  James  Nichols.  All  of  these  were  missionaries 
under  appointment  from  the  English  Society  for  Propa- 
gating the  Gospel.  After  the  Revolutionary  War  was 
ended  fifty-seven  men  organized  a  parish  and  called  it 
St.  Peter's.  In  1796-97  a  new  church,  the  present  one, 
was  biiilt.  The  following  clergymen  served  the  parish 
in  this  order,  though  exact  dates  cannot  be  given,  namely, 
Nathan  B.  Burgess,  Roger  Searle  (who  afterward  went 
as  a  home  missionary  to  Ohio),  and  Rodney  Rossiter. 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

Following  these,  the  Rev.  Robert  W.  Harris,  the  Rev. 
Joseph  T.  Clark,  the  Rev.  Gurdon  S.  Colt,  the  Rev. 
Norman  Pinney,  and  the  Rev.  Allen  C.  Morgan  offi- 
ciated a  few  months  each.  From  1831  to  1837  the 
Rev.  Dr.  D.  Burham  was  rector;  from  1837  to  185  i, 
the  Rev.  William  Watson;  from  185 1  to  1854,  the  Rev. 
S.  D.  Denison;  from  1854  to  1855,  the  Rev.  A.  B.  Good- 
rich; from  1856  to  1858,  the  Rev.  S.  K.  Miller;  from 
1859  to  1861,  the  Rev.  Dr.  J.  D.  Berry;  from  1862  to 
1863,  the  Rev.  David  F.  Lumsden;  from  1864  to  1868, 
the  Rev.  Benjamin  Eastwood;  from  1869  to  1873,  the 
Rev.  Porter  Thomas;  from  1873  to  1874,  the  Rev. 
Lester  M.  Dorman;  from  1874  to  1876,  the  Rev.  S. 
Brainerd  Duffield;  from  1876  to  1878,  the  Rev.  John 
M.  Bates;  from  October,  1878,  to  October,  1888,  the 
Rev.  J.  D.  Gilliland;  from  October,  1888,  to  October, 
1892,  the  Rev.  William  E.  Hooker;  from  November, 
1892,  to  October,  1895,  the  Rev.  A.  T.  Gammack, 
LL.D.;  from  November,  1895,  to  March,  1900,  the 
Rev.  George  Henry  Smith;  from  July,  1900,  to  June, 
1908,  the  Rev.  J.  D.  Gilliland;  from  September,  1908, 
the  present  rector,  the  Rev.  Herbert  L.  Mitchell, 

RIVERTON 

Services  were  held  in  Riverton,  then  called  Hitchcocks- 
ville,  about   1830.     Delegates  were  present  from  this 

1:140:3 


THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

village  at  the  Diocesan  Convention  of  1830,  who  re- 
ported that  a  church  building  was  nearly  ready  for  use. 
The  parish  has  never  been  a  strong  one.  The  Rev. 
Isaac  Jones,  rector  in  1837,  reported  in  1838  forty-six 
families  connected  with  the  parish,  but  adds,  "This 
vicinity  is  in  all  respects  missionary  ground."  From 
1 839  to  1 840  the  Rev.  Silas  Blaisdale  was  rector.  From 
June,  1842,  to  Easter,  1843,  the  Rev.  Henry  Zell  re- 
ports that  he  had  temporary  charge.  From  1843  to 
1846  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Frisbie  had  charge;  from  1847 
to  1849,  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Coe,  2d.  From  1878  to 
1879  the  Rev.  Carlos  S.  Linsley  resided  in  Riverton. 
Since  that  time  the  rectors  of  Pine  Meadow  have  given 
more  or  less  of  their  time  to  this  mission. 


ROXBURY 

The  Episcopal  Church  in  Roxbury  had  its  beginning  as 
early  as  1740,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Beach  of  Newtown  holding 
the  first  services  there.  The  first  church  edifice  was  built 
in  1763,  near  by  the  old  cemetery.  The  Rev.  Thomas 
Davies  gave  some  part  of  his  time  to  the  care  of  this 
parish.  Later  a  new  church  building  was  erected  in  the 
center  of  Roxbury,  which,  with  improvements  made  in 
1 861,  still  stands.  Who  succeeded  Mr.  Davies  in  his 
labors  cannot  be  told.    The  following  names  and  dates, 

D413 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

with  many  Intervals,  tell  the  story:  In   1794  Roswell 
Ransom  was  present  at  the  Convention  of  the  Connecti- 
cut Clergy  and  Laymen  as  a  lay  delegate.    Amos  Squires 
is  reported  as  present  in  1798.     No  clerical  names  ap- 
pear in  the  Journal  until  1 8 1 6,  when  the  Rev.  Joseph  D. 
Welton  was  in  charge  for  about  a  year.     Then  for  ten 
years,  from  18 17  to  1827,  the  Rev.  Sturges  Gilbert  was 
rector;  for  one  year,   1825,  the  Rev.  Edward  C.  Bull 
officiated.     In  1829-30  the  Rev.  William  Lucas  held 
the  rectorship;  from  1841  to  1847,  the  Rev.  George  L 
Foote;  from  Easter,  1851,  to  1852,  the  Rev.  H.  T.  M 
Whitesides;  from  1852  to  1853,  the  Rev.  Abel  Nichols 
from  November,  1854,  to  1856,  the  Rev.  Merritt  H 
Wellman;  from  1859  to  i860,  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Cook 
from  Easter,   i860,  to  June,   1870,  the  Rev.  Collis  I 
Potter;  from  1873  to  1874,  the  Rev.  Sheldon  Davis; 
from  1875  to  1892,  the  Rev.  William  C.  Cooley;  from 
1892,    the    present    rector,    the    Rev.    Walter    Downs 
Humphrey. 


SALISBURY 

It  is  probable  that  services  of  the  Episcopal  Church 
were  held  in  Salisbury  before  the  middle  of  the  eigh- 
teenth century,  but  it  was  not  until  the  coming  of  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Davies,  who  seems  to  have  taken  the 


THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

whole  county  as  his  parish,  that  services  were  held  here 
regularly.  For  a  time,  at  least,  Mr.  Davies  officiated 
here  as  often  as  once  a  month,  but  after  his  death  only 
occasional  services  were  held  till  long  after  the  Revo- 
lutionary War.  In  1809  the  Rev.  Sturges  Gilbert  was 
assigned  to  the  care  of  the  parish  in  connection  with 
Sharon  and  Kent.  In  1822  the  Rev.  George  B.  An- 
drews was  in  charge,  and  during  his  rectorship  a  new 
brick  church  was  built.  He  was  followed  by  the  Rev. 
Stephen  Beach  in  1824,  who  remained  rector  until  1 833. 
From  1833  to  May,  1837,  the  Rev.  Lucius  M.  Purdy 
was  in  charge.  Beginning  with  1837,  ^^"^  clergymen, 
namely,  the  Rev.  Charles  W.  Bradley,  the  Rev.  S.  T. 
Carpenter,  the  Rev.  David  N.  Devins,  and  the  Rev. 
William  Warland,  followed  in  quick  succession.  From 
April,  1846,  to  Easter,  1854,  the  Rev.  George  H. 
Nichols  was  in  charge;  from  1854  to  1858,  the  Rev. 
Ruel  H.  Tuttle;  from  1858  to  1862,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Samuel  F.  Jarvis;  from  March  29,  1863,  to  September, 
1 87 1,  the  Rev.  Jonathan  A.  Wainwright;  from  1871 
to  1882,  the  Rev.  William  Allen  Johnson;  from  Feb- 
ruary I,  1883,  to  1902,  the  Rev.  James  H.  George; 
from  1902  to  1903,  the  Rev.  Henry  S.  Habersham; 
from  November  8,  1903,  to  1908,  the  Rev.  Henry  H. 
Davies;  from  1908,  the  present  rector,  the  Rev.  David 
N.  Kirkby. 

[;i43] 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 


SHARON 

On  the  14th  of  April,  1755,  the  town  of  Sharon  gave 
to  the  Episcopahans  leave  to  erect  a  church  at  the  head 
of  the  street,  near  to  Captain  King's.  This  building 
stood  for  nearly  forty  years.  Services  were  held  in  it 
by  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Dibble,  the  Rev.  Solomon  Palmer, 
and  the  Rev.  Thomas  Davies,  missionaries  of  the  Propa- 
gation Society.  During  the  Revolutionary  War  the 
building  was  deserted  and  never  again  used  for  public 
worship.  At  a  meeting  duly  warned  and  held  at  the 
Academy,  May  18,  1809,  a  parish  was  organized.  The 
Rev.  Sturges  Gilbert  held  service  in  the  Academy  every 
other  Sunday.  In  181 2  steps  were  taken  to  build  a 
church,  and  early  in  18 14  it  was  so  far  finished  that 
service  was  held  in  it.  It  was  not  finished  on  the  inside 
nor  furnished  until  18 19.  The  following  clergymen 
have  served  as  rectors:  in  18 18,  the  Rev.  George  B. 
Andrews;  in  1833,  the  Rev.  Lucius  M.  Purdy;  in  1837, 
the  Rev.  Charles  W.  Bradley;  in  1839,  the  Rev.  S.  T. 
Carpenter;  in  1844,  the  Rev.  Martin  Moody;  in  1849, 
the  Rev.  Alonzo  G.  Shears;  in  1852,  the  Rev.  Ezra 
Jones;  in  1856,  the  Rev.  Louis  French;  In  1858,  the 
Rev.  John  V.  Stryker;  from  1866  to  May,  1869,  the 
Rev.  Henry  R.  Howard;  from  September,  1869,  to 
1 87 1,  the  Rev.   Dr.   David   MacDonald;   from    1871 


THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

to  1 873,  the  Rev.  Joseph  W.  Hyde ;  from  1 873  to  1 876, 
the  Rev.  Edwin  J.  K.  Lessell;  from  1877  to  1882,  the 
Rev.  Percival  H.  Whaley;  from  1882  to  1883,  the  Rev. 
Charles  Ferris;  from  1885  to  1893,  the  Rev.  George 
Rumney;  from  1894  to  1900,  the  Rev.  George  C.  Gris- 
wold;  from  1901  to  June,  1905,  the  Rev.  H.  W.  Hutch- 
eson;  from  1905  to  Novei:^ber,  1907,  the  Rev.  James 
Buchanan  Nies,  Ph.D.;  from  1907  to  September,  1908, 
the  Rev.  Lawrence  H.  Schwab.  The  Rev.  Dr.  D.  P. 
Morgan  is  now  in  charge  of  the  parish. 

THOMASTON 

Services  of  the  Episcopal  Church  were  first  regularly 
held  in  Thomaston  by  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Eastwood  in 
1866.  In  the  next  year  the  building  formerly  occupied 
by  the  Methodists  was  bought,  and  a  parish  organized 
January  2,  1869.  The  Rev.  David  Bishop  was  rector 
from  1869  to  February  i,  1874;  the  Rev.  Thomas  Ock- 
ford  from  February  10,  1874,  to  1883 ;  the  Rev.  David 
L.  Sanford  from  1883  to  1890.  The  Rev.  Arthur  T. 
Parsons,  the  present  rector,  assumed  charge  in  the  winter 
of  1890. 

TORRINGTON 

The  parish  of  Trinity  Church  was  organized  February 
21,  1843,  worshiping  at  first  in  the  Brick  Academy.     In 

1:1453 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

the  next  year  a  church  was  built  on  the  corner  of  Water 
and  Prospect  streets.  The  first  rector,  the  Rev.  Henry 
Zell,  was  elected  January  6,  1845,  and  remained  until 
Easter,  1848.  The  Rev.  David  P.  Sanford  was  rector 
from  April  8,  1849,  to  1850;  the  Rev.  J.  S.  Covell  from 
August,  1 8 5 1 ,  to  October,  1855.  The  parish  was  vacant 
until  October,  1858,  when  the  Rev.  Mr.  Covell  was 
recalled  and  remained  till  1863.  In  April,  1864,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Sanford  was  recalled,  who  remained  until 
September  13,  1868.  Soon  after,  the  Rev.  Benjamin 
Eastwood  was  elected,  and  continued  in  charge  until 
1874.  In  June,  1874,  the  Rev.  Henry  B.  Ensworth 
became  rector,  but  remained  only  until  December,  1874. 
September  i,  1876,  the  Rev.  Henry  M.  Sherman  be- 
came rector,  and  remained  in  charge  until  1890.  From 
1 89 1  to  1895  the  Rev.  Melville  K.  Bailey  was  rector. 
On  the  ist  of  July,  1895,  the  present  rector,  the  Rev. 
J.  Chauncey  Linsley,  took  charge.  During  his  rector- 
ship the  new  stone  church  and  the  parish  house  have 
been  erected. 


WASHINGTON 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Davies  held  services  in  Washing- 
ton as  early  as  1762.  His  father,  Mr.  John  Davies, 
deeded  land  in  the  neighborhood  of  Davies  Hollow,  on 
which  a  church  was  built  about  three  years  before  his 

1,462 


o 


THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

death  in  1758.  In  1813  this  church  was  moved  to 
Washington  Green,  where  it  still  stands.  At  this  time 
it  was  named  St.  John's  Church.  No  complete  list  of 
the  clergy  who  have  had  charge  of  it  can  be  given,  for 
the  early  records  were  lost.  Beginning  with  the  year 
1840,  the  Rev.  George  S.  Gordon  was  in  charge  for  one 
year.  From  1842  to  1846  the  Rev.  George  L.  Foote 
held  services  once  each  month;  from  1847  to  1848,  the 
Rev.  William  Long;  from  1849  ^^  ^^S3^  ^he  Rev. 
James  L.  Scott.  The  parish  was  vacant  in  1854,  but 
Mr.  Scott  was  again  in  charge  from  1855  to  1867.  In 
1868,  1869,  and  1870  the  parish  was  vacant.  In  1871 
the  Rev.  John  D.  Gilliland  was  in  charge;  in  1872,  the 
Rev.  A.  L.  Rice  (Royce)  ;  from  1875  to  1882,  the  Rev. 
William  L.  Peck;  from  1884  to  1888,  the  Rev.  Charles 
Doupe;  from  1888  to  1896,  the  Rev.  William  G.  Spen- 
cer; from  May,  1896,  to  Easter,  1899,  the  Rev.  E.  A. 
Angell;  from  1899  to  1905,  the  Rev.  Percy  G.  H.  Rob- 
inson; from  October  i,  1905,  the  present  rector,  the 
Rev.  Theodore  M.  Peck,  a  son  of  a  former  rector, 
the  Rev.  William  L.  Peck. 


WATERTOWN 

In  1764  the  first  steps  were  taken  which  resulted  in 
establishing  the  services  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in 
Watertown.     (Dr.  Beardsley's  History,  p.  238.)     The 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

next  year  the  first  church  building  was  erected. 
Twenty-nine  years  later,  in  1794,  another  took  its  place, 
which  was  consecrated  by  Bishop  Seabury  November  18. 
This  was  used  until  October  28,  1855,  when  the  con- 
gregation entered  upon  the  use  of  the  third  building, 
which  is  still  standing.  From  1759  to  1785  the  Rev. 
James  Scovill  was  in  charge.  He  was  followed  by  the 
Rev.  Chauncey  Prindle,  who  remained  until  1804.  The 
Rev.  Russell  Wheeler  was  rector  from  1805  to  18 14; 
the  Rev.  Frederick  Holcomb,  D.D.,  from  18 14  to 
1839;  the  Rev.  Dr.  N.  S.  Richardson  from  1839  to 
1845;  Dr.  Holcomb  again  from  1845  to  1849;  the 
Rev.  Horace  H.  Reid  from  1850  to  1856;  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Benjamin  W.  Stone  from  1856  to  1859;  the  Rev. 
Dr.  H.  Lewis,  from  i860  to  1874,  having  as  his 
assistant  the  Rev.  William  L.  Peck  from  1871  to 
1874;  the  Rev.  Dr.  S.  D.  McConnell  from  1874  to 
1876;  the  Rev.  James  Stoddard  from  1876  to  1886. 
The  present  rector,  the  Rev.  H.  N.  Cunningham,  came 
in  1886,  with  an  interval  of  four  years,  1890  to  1894, 
which  was  occupied  by  the  Rev.  John  L.  Nichols. 

WINSTED 

Church  services  were  held  in  Winsted  in  the  year 
1847,  but  it  was  not  until  1848  that  a  parish  was 
organized  and  a  church  built.     In  1849  the  Rev.  Jona- 


THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

than  Coe,  2d,  was  in  charge  and  remained  until  1852. 
In  1854  the  Rev.  James  Wells  Coe  was  rector;  from 
1855  to  1859,  the  Rev.  James  R.  Coe;  in  i860,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  D.  H.  Short;  in  1865,  the  Rev.  John  H.  Anketell; 
from  1866  to  1867,  the  Rev.  William  H.  Williams; 
from  1868  to  May,  1870,  the  Rev.  William  H.  Lewis, 
Jr.;  from  July,  1870,  to  1873,  the  Rev.  David  P.  San- 
ford;  from  1875  to  1878,  the  Rev.  Frederick  S.  Jewell, 
Ph.D.;  from  1879  to  1880,  the  Rev.  F.  W.  Harriman; 
from  1 88 1  to  1901,  the  Rev.  G.  M.  Stanley;  from 
1902,  the  present  rector,  the  Rev.  Seth  Wolcott  Linsley. 


WOODBURY 

At  an  early  date,  some  time  before  the  year  1740,  there 
were  in  Woodbury  a  few  people  attached  to  the  Church 
of  England.  The  clergyman  who  ministered  to  them 
occasionally  was  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  Beach  of  Newtown, 
The  first  church  edifice  was  erected  on  the  hill  between 
Roxbury  and  a  district  called  Transylvania,  but  when 
in  1747  the  Congregationalists  built  a  new  church,  the 
old  First  Church  was  used  by  the  Episcopalians  for 
public  worship  until  the  erection  of  the  present  church 
in  1785.  In  1771  the  Rev.  John  Rutgers  Marshall,  a 
native  of  New  York  and  a  graduate  of  King's  College, 
returned  from  England,  whither  he  had  gone  to  secure 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

holy  orders.  He  was  appointed  by  the  Society  for  the 
Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts  missionary 
to  Woodbury,  and  for  eighteen  years  so  wisely  admin- 
istered the  affairs  of  the  parish  that  it  has  always  been 
a  strong  and  vigorous  one,  retaining  and  illustrating  the 
principles  upon  which  it  was  founded.  In  connection 
with  this  parish,  it  is  well  to  anticipate  a  little,  for  here 
occurred  an  event  which  the  Episcopal  Church  in  this 
country  considers  the  most  momentous  in  its  history: 
As  soon  as  the  Revolutionary  War  was  ended,  the 
Church  of  England  felt  that  her  connection  with  the 
church  in  this  country  had  come  to  an  end,  especially 
in  the  matter  of  supplying  funds  for  the  support  of  the 
clergymen  to  whom  she  had  given  her  orders.  The 
missionary  society,  which  had  so  liberally  contributed 
to  the  welfare  of  the  church,  was  by  its  charter  limited 
to  the  support  of  colonies  of  the  kingdom  of  Great 
Britain.  Consequently  the  recognition  of  the  inde- 
pendence of  those  colonies  closed  this  source  of  supply. 
At  the  end  of  the  war  there  were  thirteen  clergymen 
still  in  charge  of  parishes  in  Connecticut.  When  peace 
was  declared,  the  question  of  securing  a  bishop  for  the 
church  became  a  pressing  one.  At  the  suggestion  of 
the  Rev.  Mr,  Marshall,  or  because  Woodbury  was  a 
quiet  place  in  which  important  business  might  be  trans- 
acted without  attracting  public  notice,  ten  of  the  clergy 
of  Connecticut  met  there  on  the  25th  of  March,  1783, 


THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

to  consult  about  securing  a  bishop  for  Connecticut.  As 
the  result  of  this  council,  one  of  the  number,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Jarvis  of  Middletown,  was  sent  to  New  York  on 
this  business.  First,  he  tried  to  prev^ail  upon  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Learning  of  New  York  to  undertake  this  duty,  and 
when  he,  for  good  reasons,  declined,  Mr.  Jarvis,  ac- 
cording to  instructions  given,  prevailed  upon  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Seabury  to  go  to  England  to  secure,  if  possible, 
consecration  as  Bishop  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Con- 
necticut. The  English  bishops,  for  political  reasons, 
felt  unable  to  comply  with  the  urgent  request  which  Dr. 
Seabury  presented  from  the  Connecticut  clergy.  So, 
after  a  year  of  unavailing  effort,  he  went  to  Scotland, 
and  there,  in  Aberdeen,  November  14,  1784,  Dr.  Sea- 
bury was  consecrated  by  three  Scottish  bishops,  the 
Scottish  Church  being  independent  of  the  English  Gov- 
ernment. The  house  in  Woodbury  in  which  the  ten 
clergymen  met  and  chose  Dr.  Seabury  is  still  standing 
as  a  memorial  of  this  event,  the  property  of  the  Diocese 
of  Connecticut. 

The  Rev.  John  Marshall  died  on  January  21,  1789. 
Soon  after  this  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sayre  influenced  the  people 
of  St.  Paul's  Church  to  object  to  adopting  the  Consti- 
tution under  which,  at  New  Haven,  in  June,  1792,  the 
bishop,  clergy,  and  laity  organized  as  the  Diocese  of 
Connecticut.  Believing  in  the  sincerity  of  Mr.  Sayre's 
course,   they  refused  to  accept  this   Constitution;   but 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUiNTY 

afterward  better  counsels  prevailed,  and  having  coun- 
seled with  a  committee  appointed  by  the  Convention, 
the  parish  with  unanimity  acceded  to  it  and  came  into 
union  with  the  Convention.  The  names  of  those  who 
served  this  parish  at  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth 
century  are  not  known  to  the  writer.  In  1810  the  Rev. 
Joseph  D.  Welton  was  ordained  and  took  charge  of 
the  parish  until  18 17.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
Sturges  Gilbert  in  18 17,  who  remained  in  charge  until 
1827;  the  Rev.  William  Lucas  from  1828  to  1830.  In 
1830  the  Rev.  Ulysses  M.  Wheeler  officiated  for  a  few 
months;  from  1834  to  1835,  the  Rev.  J.  Dowdney; 
from  1839  *o  May,  1845,  the  Rev.  Solomon  G.  Hitch- 
cock; from  October,  1845,  to  1846,  the  Rev.  Richard 
Cox;  from  1846  to  1847,  the  Rev.  David  P.  Sanford; 
from  1847  to  Easter,  1848,  the  Rev.  Charles  Putnam; 
from  1848  to  1849,  the  Rev.  Pierre  T.  Babbitt;  from 
October,  1849,  to  February,  1853,  the  Rev.  Robert  C. 
Rogers;  from  1853  to  1855,  the  Rev.  Frederick  D. 
Harriman;  from  1855  to  1859,  the  Rev.  Curtis  T. 
Woodruff;  from  March,  i860,  to  1862,  the  Rev. 
George  Rumney;  from  Easter,  1863,  to  Easter,  1872, 
the  Rev.  John  Purvis;  from  1874  to  1877,  the  Rev.  J. 
G.  Jacocks;  from  1878  to  1879,  the  Rev.  E.  T.  San- 
ford; from  1880  to  1883,  the  Rev.  J.  Francis  George; 
from  1883  to  1886,  the  Rev.  Dr.  R.  Nelson;  from  1887 
to  1889,  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Dean;  from   1890  to  July, 


Episcopal  Church,  Plymouth 


THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

1895,  the  Rev.  J.  Chauncey  Linsley;  from  1896  to 
1898,  the  Rev.  J.  T.  Hargraves;  from  April,  1898, 
to  1905,  the  Rev.  Leander  R.  Sheffield;  from  1906  to 
1908,  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Barnard.  The  parish  is  now 
vacant. 


C'JSl 


CHAPTER  XI 


BAPTISTS 

HE  ways  of  schism  were  not  easy  in  the 
early  history  of  Litchfield  County.  The 
poverty  and  hardships  of  the  pioneers 
made  it  sufficiently  difficult  to  support 
the  parish  church  in  each  community, 
without  dividing  their  resources.  There  were  in  the 
eighteenth  century  only  two  competing  sects,  Episcopal 
and  Baptist.  The  Church  of  England  ministers  were 
missionaries,  sustained  by  an  English  society,  and  when 
they  gained  an  entrance  could  hold  their  position  by  a 
systematic  and  organized  plan. 

The  Baptists,  without  organization  or  money,  had 
to  make  up  by  zeal  and  sacrifice  for  the  lack  of  other 
advantages.  Their  ministers  were  usually  young  men 
without    education,    who    could    travel    from    parish 


BAPTISTS 

to  parish  appealing  to  disaffected  or  unorganized 
people  in  the  districts  more  remote  from  the  regu- 
lar meeting-places.  I  am  able  to  find  but  little  rec- 
ord of  these  men,  though  indications  of  their  influ- 
ence remain  in  many  towns,  where  traditional  sites 
of  Baptist  churches  are  found,  or  old  graveyards  bear 
witness  to  the  former  lives  of  ministers  and  members. 
The  Baptist  Church  in  Litchfield  at  Bantam  Falls  is 
the  successor  of  two  earlier  Baptist  churches,  one  in 
Northfield  and  the  other  in  Morris.  These  churches 
of  course  had  ministers,  but  I  know  not  their  names. 
The  present  church  was  organized  in  1852,  and  is 
usually  associated  with  similar  churches  in  East  Corn- 
wall and  Cornwall  Hollow.  An  early  Baptist  church  in 
Barkhamsted  was  afterward  merged  in  the  one  at  New 
Hartford.  Baptist  churches  in  Bridgewater  and  Rox- 
bury  became  long  ago  extinct. 

In  the  town  of  New  Milford  three  Baptist  churches 
were  organized  in  the  first  half  of  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury, at  Northville,  Merryall,  and  Gaylordsville.  I 
think  two  of  them  are  still  existent.  The  early  Baptist 
ministers  were,  as  I  have  said,  mainly  young  men  with 
zeal  and  without  education.  Their  names  do  not  mean 
much  to  history,  but  they  achieved  some  results  of  con- 
siderable importance,  mainly  perhaps  as  a  counter-irri- 
tant in  developing  the  energies  and  modifying  the 
activities  of  the  established  Congregational  churches. 

1:155] 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

It  is  said  that  when  Stephen  Smith  Nelson  was  ordained 
in  1798  as  the  first  pastor  of  the  first  Baptist  church  in 
Hartford,  he  was  up  to  that  time  the  only  Baptist 
minister  in  Connecticut  with  a  college  education. 

The  Rev.  Daniel  Wildman,  who  preached  as  a  licen- 
tiate at  Plymouth,  Connecticut,  from  1791  to  1796,  and 
afterward  gained  a  larger  reputation  in  work  outside 
the  county,  was  the  earliest  preacher  of  his  denomina- 
tion in  this  county  to  achieve  mention  in  Sprague's 
"Annals." 

The  Rev.  Rufus  Babcock  was  a  man  whose  name  has 
a  commanding  place  in  our  history.  He  was  a  soldier 
in  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  and  belonged  to  the 
Separate  Congregational  Church  in  Canaan.  He  be- 
came a  Baptist  preacher  and  gathered  a  church  in  Cole- 
brook,  Connecticut,  where  he  was  ordained  in  1794,  the 
first  minister  of  any  denomination  settled  in  that  town. 
He  later  organized  a  church  in  another  part  of  the 
town,  also  one  in  Winsted,  and  one  in  the  Newfield 
parish  of  Torrington.  He  continued  to  serve  his  first 
parish,  with  excursions  outside,  until  seventy-three  years 
of  age.  He  baptized  more  than  five  hundred  members, 
some  say  a  thousand.  He  supported  his  family  mainly 
by  farming,  and  sent  two  sons  to  Brown  University. 
One  of  these  sons,  the  Rev.  Rufus  Babcock,  D.D.,  was 
recognized  as  a  leading  man  in  his  denomination. 

Rufus  Babcock,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Colebrook,  Septem- 


BAPTISTS 

ber  19,  1798,  was  brought  up  on  his  father's  farm,  and 
graduated  from  Brown  University  in  1821.  In  the 
same  year  he  became  tutor  in  the  Columbian  College  at 
Washington,  D.  C.  In  1823  he  was  ordained  pastor  of 
the  Baptist  Church  in  Poughkeepsie,  New  York.  In 
1826  he  became  pastor  in  Salem,  Massachusetts,  and 
in  1833  President  of  Waterville  College  in  Maine. 
While  in  that  position  he  was  given  the  degree  of  D.D. 
by  Bowdoin  College.  He  was  afterward  offered  the 
presidency  of  three  other  colleges  or  universities,  but 
declined.  He  was  for  many  years  President  of  the 
American  Baptist  Publication  Society,  and  the  Corre- 
sponding Secretary  of  the  American  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society.  He,  as  friend  and  pastor  of  Matthew  Vassar, 
was  consulted  about  the  plans  for  Vassar  College  and 
assisted  in  Its  organization.  He  was  the  author  of  sev- 
eral volumes,  and  a  frequent  contributor  to  the  press. 
Toward  the  close  of  his  life,  when  he  had  retired  from 
his  larger  work,  he  returned  to  Colebrook  and  took  up 
the  pastorate  of  the  Baptist  church  which  his  father  had 
founded,  and  which  had  become  weak.  He  died  at 
Salem,  Massachusetts,  May  4,  1875,  in  the  seventy- 
seventh  year  of  his  age.    He  left  two  daughters. 

The  following  estimate  of  his  character  is  from  the 
Rev.  F.  B.  Wheeler  of  Poughkeepsie:  "Affectionate  and 
sunny  in  his  disposition,  all  were  won  to  him ;  courteous 
and  gentlemanly  in  his  bearing,  all  respected  him;  a  man 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

of  warm  Christian  spirit,  all  revered  him.  His  memory 
is  precious  in  many  hearts.  He  was  preeminently  a 
peacemaker,  always  ready  to  conciliate  and  turn  away 
wrath.  ...  As  a  preacher  he  was  a  positive  power  in 
his  denomination,  persuasive  in  oratory  and  thoroughly 
evangelical  in  his  doctrine.  While  he  was  warmly  at- 
tached to  the  principles  and  faith  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
there  was  no  narrowness  in  his  spirit,  but  a  catholicity 
of  feeling  and  action  that  was  delightfully  refreshing  to 
all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  Honored  by  his 
brethren  and  his  church,  he  has  entered  into  rest,  like  a 
shock  of  corn  fully  ripe  into  the  garner." 

Another  Baptist  minister  who  belonged  especially  to 
Colebrook,  the  Rev.  Amos  Benedict,  seems  to  me 
worthy  of  special  mention.  He  looked  temporarily 
after  the  interests  of  several  of  the  smaller  churches  of 
his  denomination  in  this  county,  but  was  more  widely 
known  as  a  lecturer,  especially  on  temperance.  He  was 
a  man  of  brilliant  parts,  of  catholic  spirit,  and  possessed 
a  large  fund  of  miscellaneous  knowledge.  He  has 
rested  from  labor  but  a  little  while  and  is  remembered 
by  many  with  affection  and  reverence. 

In  the  last  generation  Baptist  churches  have  been 
established  in  most  of  our  large  villages.  They  are 
cared  for  by  pastors  of  college  training  and  splendid 
abilities,  some  of  them  making  history  for  the  future, 
and  who  would  demand  mention  here  if  we  were  deal- 

ess: 


BAPTISTS 

ing  with  living  men  rather  than  seeking  to  preserve 
memories  of  the  past. 

I  have  no  doubt  that  the  earlier  men,  whose  names 
and  lives  I  have  not  been  able  to  set  forth  adequately, 
were  in  fact  a  very  essential  and  valuable  factor  in  the 
religious  development  of  the  county.  Criticism  of  the 
established  churches  was  constantly  needed,  and  was  a 
stimulus  to  their  activities.  A  zealous  class  of  workers 
among  the  least  educated  or  poorer  people  brings  to 
pass  a  new  and  more  emotional  as  well  as  less  conven- 
tional range  of  religious  experience,  that  in  itself  is  a 
genuine  testimony  to  the  reality  of  the  divine  inworking 
in  all  men.  These  earlier  Baptist  evangelists  were  in 
large  measure  superseded  by  the  Methodist  itinerants, 
working  with  the  same  methods  but  more  systematically; 
as  they  in  turn,  after  a  period  of  education  and  culture, 
were  followed  by  the  Adventists,  and  more  recently  by 
the  Salvation  Army.  The  great  work  is  one,  but  the 
workers  need  to  be  of  varied  gifts,  and  a  large  range  of 
thinking  as  well  as  of  working  helps  bring  the  victorious 
establishment  of  the  great  kingdom  of  truth  and  right- 
eousness. 


r 


1593 


CHAPTER  XII 

THE  METHODISTS 

|HE  latest  attack  in  great  force  on  the  old 
order  of  things  came  from  the  Method- 
ists. Their  work  in  Litchfield  County 
practically  began  with  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury, and  when  once  begun,  it  brought  to 
pass  great  and  rapid  changes.  The  Methodist  move- 
ment had  energy,  an  effective  system  of  organization, 
and  an  aggressiveness  that  seized  on  every  point  of 
vantage.  The  Baptists  had  accepted  the  old  theology, 
and  made  their  contests  on  the  one  matter  of  baptism. 
Their  work  in  the  outside  districts  made  converts,  but 
the  disaffected  Congregationalists  were  not  always  at- 
tracted to  immersion  and  often  did  wish  their  children 
baptized.  The  Methodist  preacher  had  all  the  gifts 
that  appealed  to  the  uneducated,  allowed  liberty  in  the 

1:160: 


u 


a. 


THE  METHODISTS 

matter  of  baptism,  opposed  the  method  of  supporting 
the  clergy  by  taxes,  and  attacked  Calvinism  itself  with 
a  zeal  that  never  flagged.  In  a  little  time  they  largely 
superseded  the  earlier  Baptist  churches,  though  the  first 
Methodism  was  a  matter  of  ministers  rather  than  of 
churches.  Classes  were  formed  wherever  converts  were 
made,  which  met  In  private  houses,  and  the  organization 
of  churches  could  wait. 

In  1789  Jesse  Lee  took  charge  of  all  New  England, 
which  up  to  that  time  had  no  Methodist  church  or  min- 
ister. He  soon  had  seven  men  traveling  and  preaching 
from  Maine  to  New  York. 

In  1793  Daniel  Ostrander  was  sent  to  the  Litchfield 
circuit  and  preached  far  and  wide  from  Litchfield  as  a 
center.  He  continued  to  preach  for  about  fifty  years 
and  became  a  presiding  elder,  but  I  think  his  work  In 
this  county  was  limited  to  a  few  months  in  the  beginning 
of  his  ministry,  when  he  was  about  twenty-one  years  of 
age. 

In  1 794  Enoch  Mudge  preached  once  around  the  Litch- 
field circuit.  He  was  afterward  prominent  in  Maine 
and  Massachusetts.  Billy  Hibbard  took  the  circuit  in 
1798  and  again  in  18 15.  At  the  first  appointment  he 
had  already  been  preaching  a  year  and  was  about 
twenty-six  years  old.  In  his  second  turn  he  was  contem- 
porary with  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher,  with  whom  he  was  on 
most  friendly  terms.     He  was  a  chaplain  in  the  army  in 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

1 8 14,  and  in  his  later  years  lived  in  Canaan,  Connecti- 
cut.   He  was  a  man  of  influence  and  power. 

Freeborn  Garretson  seems  to  have  been  the  man  who 
gave  special  impetus  to  early  Methodism  in  this  section 
of  the  country.  He  was  presiding  elder  in  the  New 
York  Conference  in  1791,  1797,  1 800-1 803,  and  181 1- 
18 14.  In  this  office  he  loolced  after  the  interests  of 
western  Connecticut  and  eastern  New  York.  He  was  a 
large-minded  man  who  aimed  in  a  statesmanlike  way  at 
the  establishment  of  Christianity  rather  than  the  success 
of  a  denomination,  but  none  the  less  was  loyal  and  suc- 
cessful in  his  denominational  work.  He  tried  to  build 
up  his  churches  from  the  elements  not  already  gathered 
into  organized  churches,  rather  than  to  make  division 
or  weaken  the  forces  already  at  work  for  the  salvation 
of  men.  It  was  hardly  possible,  however,  in  those  days 
for  a  Methodist  minister  to  preach  a  sermon  without 
directly  controverting  doctrines  taught  in  the  estab- 
lished churches,  and  it  was  a  matter  of  conscience  to  do 
it  thoroughly.  From  his  day  the  Methodist  churches 
were  a  permanent  factor  in  the  religious  development  of 
Litchfield  County.  The  preachers  began  their  work  at 
an  earlier  age  than  the  pastors  of  Congregational 
churches,  and  usually  without  a  college  education  or 
special  theological  training.  They  learned  to  preach 
by  preaching,  and  learned  their  theology  while  they 
were   preaching  it.     They  appealed  to   the  neglected 


THE  METHODISTS 

classes,  and  called  into  action  an  emotional  type  of 
religion,  which  made  up  in  energy  for  lack  of  scholar- 
ship. The  kind  of  work  which  conditions  forced  upon 
them  broke  the  trammels  of  conventionality,  and  pro- 
moted genuineness  in  thinking  and  religious  experience 
until  a  new  type  of  conventionality  was  formed.  The 
emphasis  they  laid  on  free  will  and  human  activity  went 
to  an  extreme  beyond  the  teaching  of  their  own  greatest 
theologians,  and  was  a  constant  challenge  to  the  old 
theology,  which  ascribed  all  possibility  or  actual  attain- 
ment of  goodness  wholly  to  the  immediate  act  and 
eternal  plan  of  God  himself.  In  this  way  controversy 
for  the  first  half  of  the  nineteenth  century  came  to  hold 
a  chief  interest  in  the  preaching  alike  in  the  old  church 
and  in  the  new.  The  itinerant  system  prevented  the 
identification  of  individual  ministers  for  the  most  part 
with  anything  so  small  as  a  county.  Under  supervision 
from  a  central  authority,  men  were  constantly  changing 
their  field  of  work  and  so  enlarging  their  experience  and 
interests  that  the  church  as  a  whole  rather  than  the 
demands  of  separate  localities  occupied  their  minds. 
Each  year  brought  a  new  minister,  continuing  without 
break  the  plan  of  his  predecessors,  and  preparing  the 
way  for  another  to  follow.  Hence,  while  the  impact  of 
Methodist  preaching  was  with  power  and  wrought  great 
changes,  and  many  of  their  preachers  were  men  of  mark, 
their  work  was  more  productive  of  conformity  to  the 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

outside  world  than  of  the  distinctive  characteristics 
which  connotate  the  development  of  local  history. 

Great  men  there  were  and  long  remembered,  preach- 
ing for  a  year  in  a  dozen  places,  perhaps  wholly  in  the 
county,  probably  some  of  them  outside,  and  then  for 
forty  or  fifty  years  devoting  themselves  to  similar  work 
elsewhere.  Great  as  were  the  names  they  made,  and 
effective  as  the  team-work  might  be  in  which  they  had 
a  part,  it  is  difficult  to  find  out  and  put  on  record  the  part 
which  as  individuals  they  had  in  the  history  of  Litchfield 
County. 

The  Rev.  Daniel  Smith  was  born  in  Salisbury,  Con- 
necticut, in  1806.  He  began  to  preach  on  the  Goshen 
circuit  in  1830,  and  was  stationed  in  Winsted  in  1834 
and  1835.  He  was  a  writer  of  Sunday-school  books  and 
a  lecturer  of  some  ability. 

The  influence  of  the  Methodist  preachers  in  changing 
the  prevalent  Calvinistic  theology  was  wrought  not  only 
by  their  own  direct  teaching,  but  by  the  change  of  atti- 
tude necessitated  in  the  Congregational  pastors  who 
preached  in  defense  of  their  own  doctrines.  A  wise  man 
with  a  position  to  defend  may  change  the  position  alto- 
gether in  making  it  defensible.  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher, 
Dr.  Nathaniel  Taylor,  and  others  of  their  time  used  to 
insist  that  they  held  loyally  to  all  the  essentials  of  the 
older  New  England  theology.  They  only  improved  the 
statement  of  it  to  guard  against  misapprehensions  and 

[.64] 


THE  METHODISTS 

misrepresentations.  None  the  less,  when  they  got 
through,  we  had  entered  a  new  world  of  religious 
thought  and  activity.  How  much  the  Methodist  preach- 
ers had  to  do  with  the  newer  thinking,  we  do  not  know, 
and  it  is  not  necessary  to  know,  but  they  had  their  part, 
and  many  factors  cooperated.  The  coming  of  railroads, 
telegraphs,  and  telephones  has  done  away  with  the  sepa- 
rateness  of  the  Litchfield  County  people. 

New  people  and  new  races  are  here.  Not  only  the 
older  churches  have  been  modified  in  character  and 
belief;  Methodism  itself  has  equally  changed.  Her 
churches  also  demand  ministers  of  liberal  education,  and 
their  members  adopt  the  ways  of  the  world.  Adventism 
took  up  for  a  time  the  work  among  the  uneducated,  and 
has  been  followed  by  the  Salvation  Army.  Individual 
and  local  peculiarities  still  have  their  occasional  distinc- 
tion, and  old  prejudices  or  opinions  are  sometimes  ap- 
pealed to  and  momentarily  revived,  but  in  the  main  we 
are  swept  by  the  current  of  movements  that  are  world- 
wide. The  attempt  has  been  made  in  these  papers  to 
recall  as  fairly  as  possible  some  of  the  special  phases  of 
a  past  time  that  may  be  worth  remembering.  It  is  too 
much  for  the  present  writer  to  presume  to  measure  the 
present  or  to  prophesy  concerning  the  future.  The 
shortcomings  in  these  studies  are  evident,  but  the  labor 
has  been  one  of  love,  and  the  reader's  forgiveness  is 
hoped  for. 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

PREACHERS 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  preachers  who  have  labored 
in  Winsted  and  vicinity  from  1790  to  1903  : 

LITCHFIELD   CIRCUIT 

1790  Samuel  Wigton  and  Henry  Christie. 

1 79 1  Mathias  Swain  and  James  Covel. 

1792  Philip  Wager  and  James  Coleman. 

1793  Samuel  Smith  and  Daniel  Ostrander. 

1794  Fredus  Aldridge  and  James  Covel. 

1795  Jesse  Stoneman  and  Joseph  Mitchell. 

1796  Daniel  Dennis  and  Wesley  Budd. 

1797  Ezekiel  Canfield  and  William  Thatcher. 

1798  Ebenezer  Stevens  and  Truman  Bishop. 

1 799  Augustus  Jocelyn. 

1800  Aaron  Hunt  and  Elijah  Batchelor. 

1 801  Peter  Moriarty  and  John  Sweet. 

1802  James  Campbell  and  Luman  Andrus. 

1803  Caleb  Morris  and  John  Sweet. 

1804  Zalmon  Lyon  and  Ebben  Smith. 

1805  Zalmon  Lyon. 

1806  Nathan  Emory  and  Samuel  Corcoran. 

1807  Aaron  Hunt  and  Jonathan  Lyon. 

1808  Henry  Eames  and  Andrew  Prindle. 
1809-10  Laban  Clark  and  Reuben  Harris. 

181 1  James  Covel  and  Arnold  Scofield. 

1812  James  Coleman  and  Benjamin  Griffin. 

1813  William  Swazey,  Gad  Smith,  and  Jonathan  Reynolds. 

1 81 4  William  Swazey,  Thomas  Thorp,  and  Jonathan  Reynolds. 

1815  Samuel  Corcoran,  Billy  Hibbard,  and  Smith  Dayton. 

1:166] 


THE  METHODISTS 


BURLINGTON    CIRCUIT 


1816  Phineas  Cook  and  Aaron  Pierce. 
18 18  Phineas  Cook  and  Cyrus  Culver. 
1 81 8-19  Nathaniel  Emory  and  Cyrus  Silliman. 

1820  Datus  Ensign  and  Nathan  Ruggles. 

1 82 1  Datus  Ensign  and  Julius  Field. 

1822  Cyrus  Silliman  and  John  Luckey. 

1823  Henry  Hatfield  and  Stephen  L.  Stillman. 

1824  Samuel  D.  Ferguson  and  Julius  Field. 

1825  Samuel  D.  Ferguson  and  Elbert  Osborn. 

1826  Joseph  McRerey  and  Elbert  Osborn. 

1827  Gershom  Pierce  and  Wells  Wolcott. 

1828  Aaron  Pierce  and  L.  Baldwin. 

1829  Aaron  Pierce  and  L.  Mead. 

1830  Quartus  Stewart  and  L.  Mead. 

1 83 1  Quartus  Stewart  and  Philo  Ferris. 

1832  Charles  Sherman  and  C.  W.  Turner. 

1833  Charles  Sherman  and  John  Nixon. 


STATIONED  PREACHERS 

YEARS  YEARS 

1834  Daniel  Smith,  first  1845  W.  H.  Ferris  ...  2 

stationed  preacher  .  2  1847  Seymour  Landon  .     .   i 

1836  Thomas  Bainbridge   .  2  1848  Harvey  Husted      .     .  2 

1838  Joseph  Law      .     .     .   i  1850  Albert  Nash      ...  2 

1839  Davis  Stocking  .  .  2  1852  GeorgeW. Woodruff .  2 
1841  Ebenezer  Washburn  .  2  1854  John  Crawford  .  .  I 
1843  D.  W.  Clark    ...  2  1855  S.  A.  Seaman    ...  2 

D67] 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 


STATIONED  PREACHERS— Continued 


1857  Otis  Saxton  .     . 

1859  W.T.Hill.     . 

1 86 1  Reuben  Loomis 

1863  L.  W.  Abbott  . 

1865  S.  H.  Piatt  .     . 

1868  B.  Pillisbury     . 

1869  W.  H.  Simonson 
1872  A.  Graves    .     . 
1874  B.  T.  Abbott    . 


YEARS 

2  1877  W.  H.  Thomas 

2  1879  Joseph  Pullman 

2  ]882  I.  E.  Smith. 

2  1885  T.  C.  Beach 

3  1888  J.  Rippers    . 

1  1892  A.  H.  Wyatt 
3  1893  D.  A.  Jordan 

2  1894  E.  S.  Ferry  . 

3  1899-1909  B.  F.  Kidder 


2 
3 
3 
3 
4 
I 
I 

5 
II 


PRESIDING  ELDERS 


1790  Freeborn  Garretson 

1821- 

1 79 1  Jesse  Lee 

1824- 

1792  Jacob  Brush 

1827 

1793  George  Roberts 

1828- 

1794  Jesse  Lee 

1832 

1795   Freeborn  Garretson 

1833- 

1796  Sylvester  Hutchinson 

1837- 

1797  Freeborn  Garretson 

1841- 

1798-9  Sylvester  Hutchinson 

1843- 

1800-2  Freeborn  Garretson 

1848- 

1803-5  Daniel  Ostrander 

T852- 

1806-7  Peter  Moriarty 

1855 

1808-10  Aaron  Hunt 

181 1  William  Anson 

1856- 

1812  Elijah  Woolsey 

1862- 

1 8 13-16  Nathan  Bangs 

1864 

1817-20  Ebcnezer  Washburn 

1865- 

[I 

683 

-23  Samuel  Merwin 
-26  Samuel  Luckey 
Arnold  Scofield 
-31   Laban  Clark 

Heman  Bangs 
-36  Stephen  Martindale 
-40  Laban  Clark 
-42  Samuel  D.  Ferguson 
-47  Bartholomew  Creagh 
-51    Seymour  Landon 
-54  John  B.  Stratton 

D.  Miller  (died) 

L.  C.  Cheney 
-61   E.  C.  Griswold 
-63  W.  C.  Hoyt 

Thomas  G.  Osborn 
-68  Nathaniel  Mead 


THE  METHODISTS 

PRESIDING  ELDERS— Continued 

1869-71  T.  C.  Osborn  1884-87  W.  H.  Wardell 

1872-75  M.  L.  Scudder  1888-92  John  W.  Beach 

1876  G.  A.  Hubbell  1893-98  Crandall  J.  North 

1877-79  W.  T.  Hill  1899-1902  John  E.  Adams 

1880-83  G.  A.  Hubbell  1903  W.  A.  Richard 


D69: 


CHAPTER  XIII 


THE  CLERGY  AS  CITIZENS 

IGH  and  holy  as  the  minister  was  once  held 
in  popular  esteem,  he  was  not  shut  out 
by  his  sanctity  from  participation  in  all 
that  concerned  the  common  life  and  com- 
mon interests  of  the  people.  He  was 
usually  regarded  as  the  first  citizen  in  the  community. 
He  gave  advice  either  in  his  priv^ate  capacity  or  formally 
from  the  pulpit  in  regard  to  the  conduct  of  affairs  in 
town  or  State.  This  grew  out  of  the  fact  that  New  Eng- 
land was  settled  with  the  religious  motive  dominant,  in 
the  hope  of  establishing  a  Christian  nation,  governed  in 
accordance  with  Christian  principles. 

This  leadership  of  the  clergy  was  promotive  of  good 
order  and  high  ideals.  As  two  political  parties  grew  up 
for  organized  conflict,  there  also  came  to  pass,  naturally, 


Congregational  Church,  East  Canaan 


THE  CLERGY  AS  CITIZENS 

a  division  in  which  the  ministers  and  leading  church 
members  were  massed  on  one  side,  and  all  irreligious 
elements  on  the  other.  This  had  its  unfortunate  bearing 
on  the  development  of  society,  creating  with  some  a 
political  bias  against  religious  influences,  and  also  some- 
times tending  to  commit  the  ministers  and  churches  to 
judgment  in  favor  of  class  interests  rather  than  to  an 
equal  regard  for  all  the  people.  That  is,  ministers  deal- 
ing with  the  affairs  of  the  public  were  constantly  liable 
to  look  at  measures  from  the  side  of  a  privileged  class, 
and  so  with  the  best  of  intentions  failed  to  do  equal 
justice  to  all. 

Notwithstanding  mistakes  and  difliculties  the  leading 
of  the  clergy,  or  their  criticism  of  public  affairs,  has 
been  greatly  helpful  to  public  progress  in  right  direc- 
tions. 

Litchfield  County  ministers  have,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  been  leaders  in  education.  They  have  been  first 
in  establishing  schools  of  all  grades.  From  the  begin- 
ning they  selected  and  examined  teachers  and  superin- 
tended their  work.  They  either  organized  academies  or 
themselves  prepared  young  people  for  college,  and  were 
influential  in  inspiring  them  to  seek  a  college  course. 
Their  preaching  in  itself  has  been  educational.  They 
have  helped  in  forming  libraries  and  promoting  a  read- 
ing habit  and  social  methods  of  literary  culture.  In 
patriotism  they  have  never  been  lacking.     Before  the 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

War  of  the  Revolution  sermons  were  preached  in  most 
of  the  churches,  and  resolutions  were  passed  by  minis- 
terial associations,  asserting  the  rights  of  the  people  and 
arousing  them  to  maintain  their  liberties. 

The  Rev.  Judah  Champion  of  Litchfield,  the  Rev. 
Cotton  Mather  Smith  of  Sharon,  and  the  Rev.  Ammi 
Ruhamah  Robbins  of  Norfolk,  in  addition  to  their 
patriotic  preaching,  went  as  chaplains  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary army.  As  I  have  referred  to  this  in  other  chap- 
ters, I  will  not  enlarge  upon  it  here,  except  to  quote 
from  Mr.  Champion's  sermon  of  May,  1776,  from 
Gal.  v.  I :  "Methinks  we  may  this  day  well-nigh  see  the 
ghosts  of  our  departed  progenitors,  and  hear  those 
blessed  worthies,  in  solemn  accents,  through  the  vast  of 
heaven,  addressing  us,  saying,  'Stand  fast  in  the  liberty 
wherewith  Christ  hath  made  you  free.'  At  the  ines- 
timable price  of  his  blood,  the  glorious  Redeemer  pur- 
chased these  blessings  for  his  people.  Through  rivers  of 
blood  and  tribulation  we  have  been  made  the  instruments 
of  handing  them  down  to  you.  Nor  can  you  wantonly 
throw  them  away  without  incurring  Jehovah's  indigna- 
tion and  curse.  Trust  in  God  and  firmly  defy  every 
danger.  Heaven  demands  your  most  vigorous  exer- 
tions." These  accounts  are  preserved  in  "Centennial 
Papers  of  the  General  Conference  of  Connecticut,"  pub- 
lished in  Hartford  in  1 877,  and  may  be  found  quoted  in 
various  periodicals. 


THE  CLERGY  AS  CITIZENS 

The  Rev.  Publius  Vergilius  Bogue,  pastor  at  Win- 
chester from  1790  to  1800,  served  in  the  war  as  a 
soldier,  as  did  the  Rev.  Rufus  Babcock,  founder  of  the 
Baptist  churches  in  Colebrook,  and  others  who  were 
afterward  ministers  in  our  churches. 

The  War  of  18 12  and  the  war  with  Mexico  were  not 
much  favored  by  the  ministers  and  churches  of  New 
England,  and  I  do  not  know  of  any  patriotic  enthusiasm 
shown  in  regard  to  these  wars  by  the  Congregational 
clergy  of  Litchfield  County.  But  Billy  Hibbard  was  chap- 
Iain  in  the  War  of  18 1 2-14.  In  the  Civil  War  of  1861- 
1865,  the  Rev.  Hiram  Eddy,  D.D.,  pastor  at  Winsted, 
went  as  chaplain,  as  did  the  Rev.  Henry  Upson  of  New 
Preston,  and  the  Rev.  John  B.  Doolittle,  afterward  pas- 
tor at  Bridgewater.  The  Rev.  Isaac  P.  Powell,  later 
pastor  at  North  Canaan,  was  an  officer  In  the  army,  and 
by  his  experience  in  a  rebel  prison  was  much  broken  in 
health.  The  Rev.  John  F.  Gleason  served  in  the  army 
and  was  afterward  pastor  at  Norfolk. 

The  temperance  reformation  at  the  beginning  of  the 
nineteenth  century  owed  much  to  the  ministers  of  Litch- 
field County.  A  sermon  by  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Porter, 
D.D.,  when  pastor  at  Washington,  Connecticut,  in  1806, 
was  marked  in  its  influence  and  was  used  for  many  years 
as  a  temperance  tract.  The  beginning  of  an  organized 
campaign  against  intemperance  got  its  impetus  from  Dr. 
Lyman  Beecher  at  Litchfield.    His  account  of  the  drink- 

1:173] 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

ing  customs  of  the  day  as  he  found  them  In  use  at  the 
meetings  of  ministers  and  churches  of  his  time  gives  us 
a  view  of  the  situation  which  aroused  him  to  action. 
In  his  Autobiography,  page  245,  we  read:  "September 
6,  1 8 10.  Well,  at  the  ordination  at  Plymouth,  the 
preparation  for  our  creature  comforts,  beside  food,  was 
a  broad  sideboard  covered  with  decanters  and  bottles 
and  sugar  and  pitchers  of  water.  There  we  found  all 
the  kinds  of  liquor  then  In  vogue.  The  drinking  was 
apparently  universal.  .  .  .  When  the  consociation  ar- 
rived, they  always  took  something  to  drink  around;  also 
before  public  services,  and  always  on  their  return. 
There  was  a  decanter  of  spirits  also  on  the  dinner-table, 
and  gentlemen  partook  of  It  during  the  afternoon  and 
evening  if  they  felt  the  need;  and  the  sideboard  looked 
and  smelled  like  the  bar  of  a  very  active  grog-shop. 
When  they  had  all  done  drinking,  and  had  taken  pipes 
and  tobacco,  in  less  than  fifteen  minutes  there  was  such 
a  smoke  you  could  n't  see.  And  the  noise  I  cannot  de- 
scribe; it  was  the  maximum  of  hilarity.  They  told  their 
stories  and  were  at  the  height  of  jocose  talk.  .  .  .  The 
next  ordination  was  of  Mr.  Harvey  In  Goshen  (October, 
1 8 10),  and  there  was  the  same  preparation,  the  same 
scenes,  and  then  afterward  still  louder  murmurs  from 
the  society  at  the  quantity  and  expense  of  liquors  con- 
sumed. .  .  .  The  two  meetings  were  near  together,  and 
in  both,  my  alarm,  shame,  and  Indignation  were  intense. 

1:1743 


THE  CLERGY  AS  CITIZENS 

.  .  .  And  silently  I  took  an  oath  before  God  that  I 
would  never  attend  another  ordination  of  that  kind." 

The  next  year,  1811,  the  General  Association  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  make  inquiries.  At  their  report 
in  Sharon  in  1812,  the  committee  stated  that  an  alarm- 
ing condition  existed,  but  they  could  see  no  way  out  of  it. 
Dr.  Beecher  at  once  moved  that  a  committee  of  three 
be  appointed  immediately  to  report  at  the  same  meeting 
something  to  be  done.  He  was  made  chairman  of  the 
committee,  and  the  report  was  in  part  as  follows : 

"The  General  Association  of  Connecticut,  taking  into 
consideration  the  undue  consumption  of  ardent  spirits, 
the  enormous  sacrifice  of  property  resulting,  the  alarm- 
ing increase  of  intemperance,  the  deadly  effect  on  health, 
intellect,  the  family,  society,  civil  and  religious  institu- 
tions, and  especially  In  nullifying  the  means  of  grace  and 
destroying  souls,  recommend : 

"i.  Appropriate  discourses  on  the  subject  by  all 
ministers  of  the  Association. 

"2.  That  district  associations  abstain  from  the  use 
of  ardent  spirits  at  ecclesiastical  meetings. 

"3.  That  members  of  churches  abstain  from  the  un- 
lawful vending,  or  purchase  and  use  of  ardent  spirits, 
where  unlawfully  sold;  exercise  vigilant  discipline,  and 
cease  to  consider  the  production  of  ardent  spirits  a  part 
of  hospitable  entertainment  In  social  visits." 

Similar  action  was  urged  upon  the  various  district 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

associations  throughout  the  State  and  was  generally 
adopted  by  them.  Dr.  Beecher  also  worked  successfully 
for  laws  restricting  saloons.  In  1826  he  preached  a 
series  of  six  sermons  on  the  nature,  signs,  evils,  and 
remedies  of  intemperance,  which  were  published  and 
widely  circulated.  Most  of  the  Congregational  minis- 
ters in  the  State  soon  became  total  abstainers.  The 
work  thus  begun  took  on  a  wider  range  than  abstaining 
from  intoxicating  liquors.  The  Connecticut  Society  for 
the  Reformation  of  Morals  also  opposed  gambling,  lot- 
tery-dealing, and  Sabbath-breaking.  Dr.  Beecher  and 
others  in  the  county  were  also  vigorous  preachers  against 
slavery  and  its  political  aggressions  in  the  nation. 

The  late  Benjamin  Mead  Wright,  when  pastor  in 
Kent,  was  successful  in  rousing  the  public  opinion  of 
several  towns  in  the  Housatonic  Valley  against  bribery 
in  elections,  and  was  the  means  of  introducing  a  Cor- 
rupt Practices  Bill  into  the  Connecticut  Legislature, 
which  prepared  the  way  for  our  present  law.  Our  min- 
isters have  not  been  politicians  in  the  usual  sense  of  the 
term,  but  they  have  kept  a  diligent  outlook  toward  all 
questions  affecting  the  common  interests  and  the  public 
morals,  and  have  been  quick  to  respond  to  all  wise  at- 
tempts for  promoting  the  cause  of  righteousness  or  the 
uplifting  of  men. 


[176] 


CHAPTER  XIV 


THE  CLERGY  IN  LITERATURE 

EN  in  the  strenuous  life,  struggling  either 
for  their  own  existence  or  for  some  greater 
purpose,  are  not  likely  to  make  great 
achievements  in  art  or  culture.  Litchfield 
County  is  justly  proud  of  her  great  men 
and  women  and  of  the  work  they  have  done  for  the 
world.  She  has  given  worthy  contributions  to  literature, 
but  in  this  does  not  claim  a  special  eminence.  The  min- 
isters of  her  earlier  history  had,  as  we  have  seen,  a  pre- 
dominant influence  along  the  lines  of  their  own  work. 
They  were  thorough  in  their  preaching  and  teaching, 
and  their  published  writings  mainly  extended  and  em- 
phasized the  power  of  their  pulpits. 

Dr.  Joseph  Bellamy  was  known  throughout  the  Eng- 
lish-speaking world  by  the  most  popular  religious  work 
of  his  day,  "True  Religion  Delineated,"  which  had  a 
large  sale  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic.    In  his  later  life 

D773 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

he  published  several  controversial  pamphlets.  These, 
with  a  few  sermons  preached  on  special  occasions,  were 
collected  and  edited  by  a  former  pupil,  the  Rev.  Noah 
Benedict  of  Woodbury,  and  published,  with  a  sketch  of 
his  life,  in  three  good-sized  volumes,  which  are  still  ac- 
cessible to  students.  His  successor  in  Bethlehem,  the 
Rev.  Azel  Backus,  D.D.,  has  left  us  a  volume  of  ser- 
mons. 

The  Rev.  Nathaniel  William  Taylor,  D.D.,  of  New 
Milford  and  New  Haven,  has  given  us  several  volumes 
in  theology:  "Practical  Sermons,"  "Lectures  on  Moral 
Government,"  "Essays,"  "Lectures  on  Selected  Topics 
of  Revealed  Theology."  His  son-in-law,  the  Rev.  Noah 
Porter,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  pastor  at  New  Milford  and  Presi- 
dent of  Yale  College,  was  the  author  of  many  valuable 
works  which  had  a  place  both  in  science  and  literature. 
The  Rev.  Ebenezer  Porter,  D.D.,  pastor  in  Washing- 
ton, Connecticut,  from  1796  to  1812,  and  born  in  Corn- 
wall, Connecticut,  October  5,  1772,  published  among 
other  books:  "Letters  on  Religious  Revivals,"  "Lectures 
on  Eloquence  and  Style,"  "The  Rhetorical  Reader"  (a 
book  much  used  in  higher  schools),  and  "Sermons." 

The  Rev.  Leonard  E.  Lathrop,  pastor  in  Salisbury 
from  1825  to  1836,  published  a  volume  of  sermons  on 
"The  Nature  and  Influence  of  Evangelical  Faith." 
The  Rev.  Jonathan  Edwards,  D.D.,  first  pastor  at  Cole- 
brook,  was  the  author  of  volumes  of  sermons  and  theo- 

[■78] 


THE  CLERGY  IN  LITERATURE 

logical  treatises  which  were  an  essential  part  of  the 
theological  development  of  New  England.  His  suc- 
cessor, the  Rev.  Chauncey  Lee,  D.D.,  pastor  at  Cole- 
brook  from  1800  to  1828,  published  a  volume  of 
sermons,  accompanied  by  one  of  original  hymns  written 
for  use  with  the  sermons.  He  was  also  the  author  of  a 
metrical  translation  of  the  Book  of  Job,  as  an  epic  poem 
entitled  "The  Trial  of  Virtue,"  which  in  its  day  was 
popular  and  had  a  wide  circulation.  The  Rev.  Thomas 
Robbins,  D.D.,  who  was  a  pretty  good  authority  on 
books,  says  of  it  in  his  diary,  "I  think  it  one  of  the  best 
poems  ever  published  in  this  country." 

A  third  Colebrook  pastor,  the  Rev.  Edward  Royal 
Tyler,  was  afterward  for  a  time  editor  of  the  Connecticut 
Observer  at  Hartford.  Later  he  became  the  first  editor 
and  part  proprietor  of  the  New  Englander.  He  wrote 
many  valuable  articles  for  this  review.  He  published  a 
book  on  Future  Punishment,  and  a  Congregational 
Handbook  or  Catechism.  His  work  was  carried  on 
under  continual  burdens  of  ill  health  and  shortened  by 
early  death. 

Dr.  Lyman  Beecher  of  Litchfield,  as  well  as  nearly  all 
his  children,  were  large  contributors  to  the  literature  of 
the  nation.  Their  work  is  too  well  known  to  call  for 
enumeration.  Dr.  Charles  G.  Finney,  of  Warren  and 
Oberlin,  has  enriched  theological  literature  by  his  Auto- 
biography  and   his   published   sermons.     Dr.   Edward 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

Dorr  Griffin,  pastor  at  New  Hartford  and  President  of 
Williams  College,  has  given  us  several  volumes  of  ser- 
mons and  lectures. 

Perhaps  the  most  distinguished  in  poetry  and  lighter 
literature  of  the  Litchfield  County  clergy  was  the  Rev. 
John  Pierpont.  He  was  born  in  Litchfield  South  Farms, 
now  Morris,  April  6,  1785,  studied  in  Morris  Academy, 
was  graduated  at  Yale  in  1804,  and  studied  law  at  the 
Litchfield  Law  School.  He  was  variously  lawyer,  busi- 
ness man,  clergyman,  statistician,  poet,  mechanical  in- 
ventor, and  popular  lecturer.  As  a  clergyman  he  was 
Unitarian,  Orthodox,  and  Spiritualist.  He  died  at 
Medford,  Massachusetts,  August  27,  1866.  In  18 16  he 
published  a  volume  of  poetry  under  the  title  "Airs  of 
Palestine,"  which  was  republished  with  his  other  poems 
In  1840.  His  name  is  not  often  mentioned  among  the 
literary  celebrities  of  New  England,  but  he  had  a  wide 
reputation  In  his  own  generation,  and  left  behind  poems 
which  are  worth  remembering.  One,  commemorating  a 
son  that  died.  Is  among  the  best  of  its  kind,  and  is,  I 
suppose,  well  known,  beginning: 

I  cannot  make  him  dead : 

His  fair  sunshiny  head 
Is  ever  bounding  round  my  study  chair ; 

Yet,  when  my  eyes,  now  dim 

With  tears,  I  turn  to  him, 
The  vision  vanishes — he  is  not  there. 
CiSo] 


Charles  G.  Finney 


THE  CLERGY  IN  LITERATURE 

His  ode  on  the  Pilgrim  Fathers,  written  for  a  celebra- 
tion at  Plymouth,  December  22,  1824,  was  worthy  of 
the  occasion.  A  poem  called  "Passing  Away"  seems  to 
me  beautiful.  The  present  writer  remembers  him  as  a 
speaker  at  a  Yale  alumni  meeting,  giving  some  personal 
reminiscences  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  The  following  de- 
scription is  taken  from  an  article  by  John  Neal  in  the 
Atlantic  Monthly  for  December,  1866:  "He  was  tall, 
straight,  and  spare,  six  feet  I  should  say,  and  rather 
ungraceful  in  fact,  though  called  by  the  women  of  his 
parish  not  only  the  most  graceful,  but  the  most  finished 
of  gentlemen.  That  he  was  dignified,  courteous,  and 
prepossessing,  very  pleasant  in  conversation,  a  capital 
story-teller,  I  am  ready  to  acknowledge,  but  he  wanted 
ease  of  manner.  .  .  .  His  tall  figure,  his  erect,  positive 
bearing,  and  somewhat  uncompromising,  severe  expres- 
sion of  countenance,  when  much  in  earnest,  with  black 
heavy  eyebrows,  clear  blue  eyes  which  passed  for  black, 
and  stiff  black  hair,  were  all  of  the  Huguenot  Southern 
type.  ...  I  was  constantly  reminded  of  John  C.  Cal- 
houn, a  fellow-student  with  him  at  Yale." 

Dr.  Horace  Bushnell  not  only  wrought  a  great  change 
in  the  theological  world  by  his  thinking,  but  was  master 
in  the  use  of  language.  In  sermons,  theological  and 
philosophical  treatises,  he  took  a  commanding  place  in 
literature. 

Samuel  J.  Andrews,  D.D.,  son  of  the  Rev.  William 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

Andrews  of  Cornwall,  and  licensed  by  the  Litchfield 
North  Association,  was  the  author  of  a  "Life  of  Christ" 
that  has  been  highly  valued  by  scholars  for  a  generation. 
The  Rev.  Lavalette  Perrin,  D.D.,  was  for  several  years 
editor  of  the  Religious  Herald  of  Hartford,  and  main- 
tained it  in  a  high  degree  of  excellence.  The  Rev.  D.  D. 
T.  McLaughlin,  of  Sharon,  Litchfield,  and  Morris,  was 
a  man  of  literary  tastes,  and  devoted  his  leisure  for  many 
years  to  a  new  lyrical  translation  of  the  Psalms,  intended 
to  preserve  the  special  qualities  of  their  Hebrew  style. 
Sorrow  at  the  loss  of  his  son  prevented  him  from  secur- 
ing their  publication  in  book  form  before  his  own 
death. 

Two  volumes  of  selected  sermons  were  published  by 
a  committee  of  ministers  in  this  vicinity,  one  in  1798,  the 
other  in  18 10.  They  are  of  special  historic  interest  to 
the  people  of  Litchfield  County.  Many  sermons  and 
religious  articles  from  the  ministers  of  this  county  found 
their  way  into  the  National  Preacher,  the  Connecticut 
Evangelical  Magazine,  and  the  Christian  Spectator.  It 
is  unfortunate  that  writers  for  the  last  two  magazines 
were  accustomed  to  use  pseudonyms,  so  that  it  is  difl'icult 
in  many  cases  to  identify  them. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Robbins,  D.D.,  a  son  of  the  Nor- 
folk pastor,  and  preacher  for  a  year  and  three  months  in 
Winchester,  besides  having  much  to  do  with  our  churches 
in  many  ways,  collected  a  series  of  his  articles  from  the 


THE  CLERGY  IN  LITERATURE 

Evangelical  Magazine,  and  published  them  in  1 8 1 5  in  a 
book  entitled  "Historic  View  of  the  Early  Planters  of 
New  England."  His  greatest  contribution  to  literature 
was  in  his  diary,  which  was  published  after  his  death  by 
his  nephew,  the  Hon.  Robbins  Battell. 

The  ministers  of  the  present  generation  are  somewhat 
given  to  authorship;  in  fact,  one  is  hardly  considered  in 
good  standing  until  he  has  published  a  book.  To  the 
prevalence  of  such  a  custom  may  be  attributed  the  ambi- 
tion of  the  present  writer  to  attempt  an  invasion  into 
literature.  It  has  been  the  purpose  of  this  book  to  avoid 
speaking  of  living  men,  but  simply  to  enumerate  some  of 
the  literary  work  done  by  men  of  our  time  can  hardly  be 
objectionable. 

Some  of  our  ministers  have  contributed  works  on  local 
history.  The  late  Rev.  Samuel  Wolcott  Orcutt  pub- 
lished, among  other  books,  a  "History  of  Torrington," 
having  been  for  a  time  pastor  of  the  First  Church  in  that 
town.  The  Rev.  Augustine  G.  Hibbard  gave  us  an  ex- 
cellent history  of  Goshen.  The  Rev.  Giles  F.  Goode- 
nough  is  the  author  of  "Gossip  about  a  Country  Parish, 
being  a  History  of  Ellsworth  Parish  in  the  Town  of 
Sharon."  The  Rev.  Wesley  E.  Page  for  Milton,  and 
the  Rev.  Gerald  Stanley  Lee  for  Sharon,  have  contrib- 
uted pamphlets. 

Perhaps  because  problems  of  morals  and  theology  are 
not  so  urgently  demanding  solution  as  in  the  earlier 

1:1833 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

times,  our  clergy  take  a  wider  range  in  their  literary 
work,  give  more  attention  to  lighter  themes,  and  aim  at 
a  more  artistic  finish.  The  Rev.  Gerald  Stanley  Lee, 
formerly  pastor  at  Sharon,  besides  books  like  "The 
Shadow-Christ,"  containing  word-pictures  of  spiritual 
visions,  has  written  many  essays  of  a  critical  character. 
The  Rev.  John  Sheridan  Zelie,  in  younger  days  pastor 
in  Plymouth,  is  a  contributor  to  periodical  literature  in 
similar  ways.  The  Rev.  John  Calvin  Goddard  of  Salis- 
bury has  published  "Leaves  of  Absence,  and  Other 
Leaves,"  and  is  constantly  bringing  the  public  under  new 
obligations.  The  Rev.  Edward  O.  Dyer,  pastor  at 
Sharon  from  1893  to  1906,  is  the  author  of  "Gnad- 
ensee."  The  Rev.  Herbert  K.  Job,  pastor  in  Kent,  is 
the  author  of  several  well-known  books  about  birds. 
The  Rev.  Myron  M.  Munson,  lately  of  Warren,  has  a 
book  on  the  genealogy  of  the  Munson  family.  The 
Rev.  Thomas  C.  Richards,  of  Winsted  and  Torrington, 
now  pastor  in  Warren,  Massachusetts,  is  the  author  of 
one  of  the  leading  missionary  biographies  of  the  present 
day,  "Samuel  J.  Mills,  Missionary  Pathfinder."  The 
Rev.  Newell  M.  Calhoun,  born  in  Bethlehem,  pastor  for 
ten  years  in  Winsted,  Fellow  of  Yale  University,  has 
two  books  to  his  credit,  "Litchfield  County  Sketches" 
and  "Picturesque  Litchfield  County."  The  Rev.  A.  W. 
Ackerman,  D.D.,  of  the  Center  Church,  Torrington, 
has  written  a  story  of  Old  Testament  times,  entitled 


THE  CLERGY  IN  LITERATURE 

"The  Price  of  Peace,  or  A  Story  of  the  Times  of  Ahab, 
King  of  Israel." 

That  this  list  is  not  longer  is  probably  due  more  to 
lack  of  information  than  to  lack  of  material,  and  will  call 
out  testimony  from  others  to  make  good  the  deficiency. 


L'^sl 


CHAPTER  XV 


WIT  AND  HUMOR 

ERSONAL  peculiarities  and  eccentricities 
have  sometimes  characterized  men  who 
find  their  way  into  the  pulpit,  as  well  as 
those  in  more  secular  occupations.  In 
such  cases  the  conception  of  solemnity 
and  dignity  associated  with  the  ministry  has  given  special 
emphasis  to  that  which  was  peculiar  and  personal. 
Flashes  of  light  from  a  dark  cloud  attract  attention. 

I  shall  not  attempt  to  make  a  careful  distinction  be- 
tween wit  and  humor,  but  assume  that  there  is  a  recog- 
nized difference,  passing  through  many  gradations,  be- 
tween the  sharpness  of  mind  which  is  a  ready  weapon  in 
controversy  or  repartee,  and  the  large-hearted  good 
nature  which  lives  in  the  sunshine  and  consciously  or 
unconsciously  reflects  warmth  and  glory  on  all  around. 
The  narrow  and  ignorant  may  possess  the  power  of  ridi- 


WIT  AND  HUMOR 

cule  and  stinging  retort ;  only  the  larger-minded  who  see 
men  and  things  from  more  than  one  side  have  the 
capacity  for  humor  as  well  as  wit,  and  the  ability  to  use 
both  effectively  for  the  best  service  of  mankind  instead 
of  merely  for  triumph  in  a  personal  argument. 

There  have  been  many  of  the  ministers  in  Litchfield 
County  eminent  in  the  use  of  wit  and  humor.  It  would 
not  be  wise  to  enter  into  extensive  detail  with  regard  to 
the  pastors  who  in  almost  every  community  have  left  be- 
hind them  traditions  of  characteristic  peculiarity  or 
smartness  in  retort  or  repartee.  Most  of  the  jokes 
handed  down  have  been  sufficiently  repeated  to  be  pretty 
well  known  or  easily  accessible,  and  some  of  them  are 
fickle  and  have  the  habit  of  attaching  themselves  to  dif- 
ferent persons. 

In  reading  some  of  the  old  sermons  or  studying  the 
accepted  belief  of  the  early  preachers,  it  might  seem  im- 
possible that  men  who  felt  the  responsibility  of  such  be- 
lief and  such  preaching  could  ever  have  smiled,  but  God 
has  so  constituted  our  human  nature  that  it  seeks  relief 
and  finds  it.  If  this  relief  comes  through  inconsistencies 
and  incongruities,  it  makes  a  happy  excuse  for  the  incon- 
sistencies. The  custom  of  sharp  contests  of  wit  in  social 
intercourse  seems  to  have  been  cultivated  by  our  fore- 
fathers, and  if  it  was  often  the  cause  of  coarseness  and 
buffoonery  among  the  common  people,  among  the  better 
educated  it  rose  into  the  higher  atmosphere  of  brilliancy, 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

though  sometimes  of  a  rather  stiff  or  stilted  character. 
John  Trumbull  of  Watertown,  Dr.  Bellamy  of  Bethle- 
hem, and  still  more  his  successor,  Dr.  Azel  Backus,  were 
remembered  for  their  sharp  sayings.  It  became  so  natu- 
ral to  Dr.  Backus  to  give  witty  turns  to  his  speech  that 
he  was  unable  wholly  to  repress  it  in  his  preaching. 

Of  course  this,  from  the  professional  point  of  view, 
was  greatly  to  be  regretted.  Great  as  was  the  personal 
dignity  and  authority  of  the  minister  among  the  people, 
the  pulpit  itself  and  the  clergyman  in  the  pulpit  had  an 
added  sacredness.  If  the  minister's  human  nature  might 
be  allowed  some  relief  at  an  appropriate  time  and  place, 
there  was  great  danger  in  permitting  the  people  to  relax 
from  the  solemnity  of  the  Lord's  house  and  the  responsi- 
bility of  divine  service. 

Even  Dr.  Chauncey  Lee  of  Colebrook,  renowned  for 
his  wit  and  merriment  on  social  occasions,  was,  I  think, 
never  accused  of  carrying  his  humor  into  the  pulpit. 

There  were,  however,  men  in  those  days  who,  in  a 
way  natural  to  themselves,  carried  not  only  wit  but 
humor  into  their  pulpit  ministrations  without  detriment 
to  the  deep  spiritual  force  of  their  influence.  Such  men 
were  the  Rev.  Ammi  Robbins  of  Norfolk,  Samuel  J. 
Mills  of  Torringford,  and  Lemuel  Haynes  of  Torring- 
ton.  I  have  been  told  that  it  was  the  usual  custom  of 
Father  Mills  to  introduce  a  pleasant  story  or  witticism 
when  the  people  showed  signs  of  weariness  or  inattention 


WIT  AND  HUMOR 

in  the  middle  of  a  sermon,  for  the  express  purpose  of 
giving  his  congregation  a  needed  rest  and  so  securing 
better  attention  to  what  he  wished  to  say  further.  The 
sketch  of  his  life  given  earlier  in  this  book  sufficiently 
illustrates  his  habit  and  its  success. 

Dr.  Farrand's  wit  was  of  that  sarcastic  kind  which 
would  naturally  give  an  added  sting  and  force  to  many 
things  in  his  preaching,  and  could  probably  have  been 
brought  into  service  many  times  when  his  sense  of  what 
the  pulpit  required  kept  him  under  restraint.  The  story 
Is  told  of  him,  in  the  memoir  of  the  Rev.  Lemuel  Haynes, 
that  he  was  walking  with  a  rich  neighbor,  who  with  con- 
siderable pride  called  his  attention  to  the  richness  of  the 
farm  he  owned,  and  the  value  of  a  beautiful  brook 
flowing  through  it.  Mr.  Farrand  replied  by  quoting  at 
once  the  following  verse  of  a  hymn : 

Though  a  broad  stream,  with  golden  sands, 

Through  all  his  meadows  roll. 
Yet  he  's  a  wretch,  with  all  his  lands, 

Who  wears  a  narrow  soul. 

*'While  riding  with  a  young  clergyman,  he  beheld,  at  a 
little  distance  from  the  highway,  two  or  three  Indians 
at  their  work;  and  turning,  rode  up  and  gave  them  an 
affectionate  salutation.  After  overtaking  his  fellow- 
traveler,  he  received  a  sharp  rebuke  for  his  attention 
to  the  Indians.    He  replied,  'They  always  treat  me  with 

1:189: 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

good  manners  when  I  meet  them,  and  I  should  be 
ashamed  to  have  it  said  that  the  minister  of  the  parish 
has  n't  as  good  manners  as  an  Indian.'  " 

One  of  the  most  marked  examples  of  eccentricity  and 
wit  was  the  Rev.  Lemuel  Haynes.  He  was  a  mulatto 
and  was  abandoned  by  his  parents  when  an  infant.  He 
was  born  at  West  Hartford,  Connecticut,  July  i8,  1753. 
At  the  age  of  five  months  he  was  bound  out  to  Deacon 
David  Rose  of  Granville,  Massachusetts.  Having  been 
sent  to  school  long  enough  to  learn  to  read,  he  studied 
evenings  in  the  chimney-corner  such  books  as  he  could 
get.  In  this  way  he  learned  by  heart  large  portions  of 
the  Scripture,  Watts'  Hymns  and  Psalms,  Young's 
"Night  Thoughts,"  and  Doddridge's  Works.  One  of 
his  sayings  was,  "I  make  it  my  rule  to  know  something 
more  every  night  than  I  knew  in  the  morning."  After 
reaching  manhood  he  studied  Latin  with  Dr.  Farrand 
in  Canaan,  working  on  the  farm  to  pay  his  way.  He 
then  learned  Greek  in  a  similar  way,  and  began  to 
preach  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven.  He  first  served  as 
a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

He  preached  successfully  in  Torrington  from  1786  to 
1789.  He  drew  large  congregations,  notwithstanding 
his  color.  It  is  said  of  one  man  that  he  refused  to  attend 
for  some  time  until  curiosity  prevailed  over  prejudice. 
He  took  his  seat  in  the  crowded  church,  but  purposely 
kept  his  hat  on.     "The  preacher  had  not  gone  far  in  his 

1:190] 


WIT  AND  HUMOR 

sermon,"  said  the  man,  "before  I  thought  him  the 
whitest  man  I  ever  saw.  My  hat  was  taken  off  and 
thrown  under  the  seat,  and  I  found  myself  listening  with 
the  most  profound  attention."  He  became  a  man  of 
prayer  and  piety. 

Mr.  Haynes  had  a  vivid  and  terse  way  of  putting  his 
statements.  I  have  never  seen  the  usual  argument  for 
an  accepted  doctrine  of  Calvinism  more  plausibly  stated 
than  in  one  of  his  sermons:  "Does  God  give  a  sinner  a 
new  heart  to-day?  All  say  that  he  is  good  for  this  act. 
If  God  formed  the  design  of  saving  that  sinner  one  day 
beforehand,  he  was  good  during  a  whole  day  for  such  a 
design.  What  if  God  determined  from  eternity  to 
sanctify  that  sinner?  Then  he  was  eternally  good  for 
such  a  determination.  This  is  God's  decree  of  election; 
therefore,  his  eternally  electing  love,  instead  of  proving 
that  he  is  a  hard  Master,  proves  his  eternal,  unchange- 
able goodness." 

Some  of  his  students  went  to  him  to  complain  of  hav- 
ing been  slandered,  expecting  sympathy.  He  merely 
replied,  "I  knew  all  this  before."  "Why,  then,"  said 
one,  "did  you  not  inform  us?"  "Because,"  said  he,  "it 
was  not  worth  telling;  and  I  now  tell  you  plainly  and 
once  for  all,  it  is  best  to  let  the  devil  carry  his  own  mail 
and  bear  its  expenses." 

"Mr.  Haynes  was  a  strong  advocate  for  an  educated 
ministry,  and  often  expressed  his  regret  at  his  own  lack. 

1:190 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

A  young  clergyman  remarked  on  one  occasion  that  min- 
isters without  learning  succeeded  well,  and  that  often 
ignorant  ones  did  best.  'Won't  you  tell  me  then,'  said  Mr. 
Haynes,  'how  much  ignorance  is  necessary  to  make  an 
eminent  preacher?'  " 

A  physician  of  loose  principles  whom  he  had  sometimes 
employed  called  to  take  leave  of  him  as  he  was  about  to 
move  away.  Mr.  Haynes  said,  "I  was  not  aware  that 
you  expected  to  leave  this  part  of  the  country  so  soon.  I 
am  owing  you  a  small  amount,  which  ought  to  have  been 
canceled  before.  I  have  not  the  money,  but  will  go  and 
borrow  it  immediately."  The  doctor  handed  him  a 
receipt  in  full,  saying,  "Here,  Mr.  Haynes,  is  a  dis- 
charge of  your  account.  You  have  been  a  faithful 
servant  here  for  a  long  time,  and  receive  but  small  sup- 
port; I  give  you  the  debt— but,  Mr.  Haynes,  you  must 
pray  for  me  and  make  me  a  good  man."  Mr.  Haynes 
quickly  replied,  "Why,  doctor,  I  think  I  had  much  better 
pay  the  debt." 

The  pastor  of  a  neighboring  parish  was  a  confirmed 
bachelor,  and,  at  the  request  of  some  of  his  people,  Mr. 
Haynes  tried  to  convince  him  that  it  would  be  better  to 
marry.  "The  clergyman  replied  that  he  felt  the  force 
of  his  remarks,  and  was  disposed  to  think  of  the  subject 
seriously,  adding  very  emphatically,  'I  understand,  Mr. 
Haynes,  that  you  have  some  very  fine  daughters.'  Mr. 
Haynes  instantly  replied,  'I  have  sympathy  for  you  and 

1:192] 


Austin   Isham 


WIT  AND  HUMOR 

your  parishioners ;  but,  really,  I  have  taken  great  pains 
to  educate  my  daughters,  and  much  care  to  prepare  them 
for  usefulness,  and  I  hate  to  throw  them  away.'  " 

Dr.  Lyman  Beecher  and  his  sons  had  a  saving  sense 
of  humor,  and  a  ready  wit  which  was  often  made  to 
serve  a  useful  purpose.  It  is  said  that  the  doctor  was 
making  a  call  in  a  neighboring  parish,  when  the  lady  of 
the  house  made  some  sorrowful  criticism  of  her  young 
pastor,  because,  while  thoroughly  good  in  intention,  he 
lacked  the  dignity  suited  to  his  profession,  and  among 
other  things  was  inclined  to  go  fishing,  "which,"  she 
remarked,  "is  hardly  a  respectable  thing  for  a  minister." 
Mr.  Beecher  jumped  up,  and  addressing  a  small  boy, 
said,  "Bub,  go  and  dig  me  some  worms,  and  I  will  make 
it  respectable." 

In  later  times  the  Rev,  Herman  L.  Vaill,  of  Litch- 
field, Milton,  and  Torringford,  the  Rev.  Austin  Isham 
of  Roxbury,  and  the  Rev.  Timothy  A.  Hazen  of 
Goshen,  were  accustomed  to  enliven  companionship  by 
a  flow  of  witty  speech.  That  any  of  them  purposely 
introduced  humor  into  the  pulpit  I  do  not  know.  There 
are  living  men  who  are,  or  have  been,  pastors  in  Litch- 
field County,  who  are  humorists  of  a  high  order,  and 
have  increased  their  influence  for  good  by  the  use  of  wit 
even  in  sermons. 

A  sense  of  humor  has  sustained  many  a  man  in  trying 
circumstances  and  furnished  a  welcome  relief  from  the 

1:193] 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

continued  strain  of  burdens  hard  to  be  borne.  Under 
wise  guidance  it  may  give  rest  to  a  tired  congregation, 
or  awaken  their  interest  in  important  truth  without  de- 
flecting their  minds  from  serious  thought  or  high  spir- 
itual purpose.  It  is  a  valuable  gift,  but,  like  all  power, 
has  its  dangers  and  needs  to  be  used  with  caution  and 
restraint. 

The  present  writer  recalls  six  instances  in  which  as 
many  different  ministers  of  this  county  seriously  offended 
one  or  more  parishioners  by  attempting  a  facetious  re- 
mark. In  some  cases  I  have  no  doubt  it  shortened  the 
pastorate.  "A  brother  offended  is  harder  to  be  won 
than  a  strong  city."  If  only  ministers  were  to  read  this 
book,  I  should  like,  for  their  warning,  to  recount  the 
six  jokes  and  their  effect,  but  for  fear  of  rekindling  old 
fires  I  refrain.  Ministers  of  these  days,  with  less  of 
dignity  and  authority  to  maintain,  have  a  larger  free- 
dom, than  of  old,  to  be  themselves  and  to  use  all  their 
gifts,  in  the  pulpit  or  out  of  it;  but  the  very  enlargement 
of  liberty  carries  with  it  a  responsibility  for  wise  caution 
as  well  as  wise  action. 

It  may  show  a  lack  of  the  humorous  sense  to  turn  this 
chapter  into  a  sermon,  but  the  writer  was  a  preacher 
before  he  tried  to  be  a  historian. 


1:194] 


CHAPTER  XVI 

ministers'  children 

HERE  is  an  old  saying  in  disparagement  of 
ministers'  sons  and  deacons'  daughters, 
which  malicious  people  like  to  quote,  but 
the  answer  is  obvious  that  the  children  of 
the  clergy  usually  gain  a  standing  in  the 
world  much  above  the  average.  One  reason  for  this  is 
probably  the  fact  that  Providence  furnishes  ministers 
with  wives  who  are  usually  the  best  of  womankind,  and 
attaches  a  responsibility  to  their  position  specially  fitted 
for  the  development  of  sainthood.  It  seems  to  me 
inevitable  that  some  notice  should  here  be  given  to  a 
few  of  the  best-known  men  and  women  who  had  their 
birth  and  upbringing  in  the  families  of  Litchfield 
County  pastors. 

A  son  of  the  Rev.  John  Trumbull  of  Watertown  was 

[•953 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

the  Hon.  John  Trumbull,  LL.D.,  distinguished  both  as 
a  learned  jurist  and  as  a  popular  poet.  He  was  born  in 
Watertown,  April  24,  1750,  and  died  in  Detroit,  Michi- 
gan, May  12,  1 83 1.  At  seven  years  of  age  he  passed 
the  examination  for  admission  to  Yale  College,  but 
waited  six  years  before  entering,  graduated  at  seventeen, 
and  became  a  tutor  at  twenty-one.  He  studied  law  in 
the  office  of  John  Adams  at  Boston.  He  lived  for 
several  years  in  Hartford,  was  a  member  of  the  State 
Legislature,  and  from  1801  to  1819  a  judge  of  the 
Superior  Court  of  Connecticut.  His  poetical  works 
were  published  in  two  volumes.  His  satirical  poem 
"McFingal"  was  exceedingly  popular  and  one  of  the 
*'best  sellers"  of  the  time.  More  than  thirty  editions 
were  called  for.  It  was  written  in  the  style  of  "Hudi- 
bras,"  and  gives  a  burlesque  of  the  American  Revolu- 
tion, with  sketches  of  particular  individuals  and  charac- 
teristic manners,  illustrated  by  humorous  incidents. 

The  Rev.  Noah  Benedict  was  ordained  pastor  in 
Woodbury,  October  22,  1760,  and  died  in  the  fifty-third 
year  of  his  pastorate.  His  son,  the  Hon.  Noah  B. 
Benedict,  graduated  at  Yale  in  1788.  He  was  a  promi- 
nent lawyer  in  Litchfield  County  for  nearly  forty  years. 
He  was  at  various  times  a  member  of  the  upper  or  lower 
house  of  the  State  Legislature,  and  for  many  years  a 
judge  of  probate  in  his  native  town. 

The  Rev.  Daniel  Boardman,  first  pastor  at  New  Mil- 


MINISTERS'  CHILDREN 

ford,  has  been  followed  by  a  long  procession  of  distin- 
guished and  useful  citizens  among  his  descendants.  His 
son,  Colonel  Sherman  Boardman,  was  a  man  of  large 
activity  and  influence.  A  grandson,  the  Hon.  Elijah 
Boardman,  was  a  United  States  Senator.  Another 
grandson,  David  L.  Boardman,  was  a  lawyer  of  promi- 
nence in  the  county. 

The  Rev.  Nathaniel  Taylor,  the  second  pastor,  was 
equally  fortunate  in  his  posterity.  The  Rev.  Nathaniel 
W.  Taylor,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  was  his  grandson.  He  was 
the  leader  in  the  development  of  the  New  Haven 
theology,  a  theology  not  well  remembered  by  thinkers 
of  the  present  day,  but  in  its  time  a  terror  to  conserva- 
tive minds  and  greatly  loved  by  advanced  preachers. 
Other  members  of  the  family  have  been  citizens  of 
distinction,  whose  reputation  has  reached  far  beyond  the 
borders  of  their  native  town. 

The  Hon.  John  Cotton  Smith,  a  son  of  the  Rev. 
Cotton  Mather  Smith,  was  born  in  Sharon,  February  12, 
1765.  He  was  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1783,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1786.  He  was  elected  to  the 
State  Legislature  in  1793,  and  to  the  United  States  Con- 
gress in  1800.  In  1809  he  became  a  judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Connecticut,  was  elected  Lieutenant 
Governor  in  181 1,  and  Governor  in  18 13,  holding  this 
office  until  18 17.  He  was  for  several  years  President  of 
the  American   Board   of   Commissioners   for   Foreign 

1:1973 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

Missions  and  of  the  American  Bible  Society.  He  died 
December  7,  1845,  ^^  nearly  eighty-one  years  of  age. 
Helen  Evertson  Smith,  author  of  "Colonial  Days  and 
Ways"  and  other  valuable  works,  is  a  living  descendant 
of  the  Sharon  pastor. 

Daniel  Parker,  first  pastor  at  Ellsworth,  a  parish  in 
Sharon,  was  the  father  of  the  Hon.  Amasa  J.  Parker, 
LL.D.  Born  in  Ellsworth,  Connecticut,  in  1807,  he 
was  graduated  at  Union  College  in  1825.  He  was 
elected  to  the  Legislature  of  New  York  in  1833,  and 
two  years  later  was  made  a  regent  of  the  State  Univer- 
sity. In  1837  he  was  elected  to  Congress.  In  1844  he 
became  a  circuit  judge  and  vice-chancellor  of  the  Court 
of  Equity,  and  soon  afterward  judge  of  the  Supreme 
Court. 

The  Rev.  John  W.  Beecher,  pastor  in  Ellsworth  from 
1 841  to  1847,  ^^^  three  sons  in  the  Presbyterian  minis- 
try, one  of  whom  is  the  Rev.  Willis  Judson  Beecher, 
D.D.,  LL.D.,  of  Auburn  Theological  Seminary,  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  leading  Biblical  exegetes  of  our 
time. 

The  Rev.  D.  D.  T.  McLaughlin,  pastor  in  Sharon 
from  1859  to  1865,  and  afterward  in  Litchfield  and 
Morris,  had  a  son  of  great  promise,  Edward  T.  Mc- 
Laughlin, who  was  Assistant  Professor  of  English  in 
Yale  College,  and  the  author  of  "Literary  Criticism  for 
Students,"  published  by  Henry  Holt  &  Co.,  1893.    His 


MINISTERS'  CHILDREN 

early  death  was  felt  as  a  great  loss  to  literature  and 
scholarship. 

The  Rev.  James  Russell  Bourne,  pastor  in  Sharon 
from  1880  to  1890,  had  two  sons,  both  of  whom  were 
prominent  in  educational  work,  Edward  G.  Bourne,  late 
Professor  of  History  at  Yale  University,  and  Henry  E. 
Bourne,  Professor  in  Western  Reserve  University, 
Cleveland,  Ohio.  The  recent  death  of  Professor  E.  G. 
Bourne,  while  this  manuscript  was  in  preparation,  was 
felt  as  a  blow  to  the  cause  of  historical  research. 

The  Rev.  Jeremiah  Day,  pastor  of  the  church  in  New 
Preston  from  1769  to  1806,  had  four  sons.  The  Rev. 
Jeremiah  Day,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  was  Professor  of  Mathe- 
matics and  Natural  Philosophy  at  Yale  and  afterward 
President  of  Yale  College  from  18 17  to  1846.  The 
Hon.  Thomas  Day,  LL.D.,  of  Hartford,  was  Secretary 
of  the  State  of  Connecticut  for  nearly  thirty  years.  The 
Rev.  Mills  Day  was  tutor  at  Yale,  and  Colonel  Noble 
Day  was  a  merchant  in  New  Preston,  and  father  of  the 
Rev.  Henry  Noble  Day,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  pastor  at  Water- 
bury,  Connecticut,  from  1836  to  1840,  Professor  of 
Sacred  Rhetoric  for  eighteen  years  in  Western  Reserve 
College,  and  afterward  President  of  the  Ohio  Female 
College.  He  was  the  author  of  several  books  of  an 
educational  or  philosophical  character. 

Professor  Bernadotte  Perrin,  Ph.D.,  LL.D.,  of  Yale 
University,  is  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Lavalette  Perrin,  D.D., 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

pastor  in  Goshen  from  1843  to  1857,  and  afterward  in 
Torrington. 

The  Rev.  Cornelius  L.  Kitchel,  pastor  for  several 
years  in  Salisbury,  and  since  professor  at  Yale  Univer- 
sity, is  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Harvey  Kitchel,  D.D.,  pastor 
in  Thomaston  from  1839  to  1848,  and  afterward  Presi- 
dent of  Middlebury  College. 

The  Rev.  Ammi  Ruhamah  Robbins  gave  three  of  his 
thirteen  children  to  the  ministry.  One  of  them  was  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Robbins,  D.D.,  well  known  as  pioneer 
home  missionary,  author,  book-collector,  and  librarian 
at  Hartford. 

Daniel  Farrand,  pastor  in  Canaan  for  fifty-one  years, 
had  a  son  and  a  son-in-law  who  were  judges  of  the 
Supreme  Court  in  Vermont. 

The  Rev.  Nathaniel  Lee,  first  pastor  in  Salisbury,  the 
Rev.  Samuel  J.  Mills  of  Torringford,  and  the  Rev. 
Publius  Vergilius  Bogue  of  Winchester  have  had  three 
generations  of  descendants  in  the  ministry.  That  the 
ministry  is  constantly  recruited  from  the  families  of 
ministers  proves  that  those  best  acquainted  with  the 
trials  and  difficulties  of  a  pastor's  life  believe  it  to  be 
worth  the  cost. 

When  ministers'  children  are  spoken  of,  the  family  of 
Dr.  Lyman  Beecher,  pastor  in  Litchfield  from  18 10  to 
1826,  naturally  takes  the  place  of  acknowledged  pre- 
eminence.   The  story  is  too  well  known  to  call  for  a  long 

1200-2 


MINISTERS'  CHILDREN 

recital  here.  Six  sons  were  all  ministers,  and  all  men  of 
marked  ability.  Edward  Beecher,  D.D.,  commanded 
high  respect  for  his  attainments  in  scholarship,  and  car- 
ried on  his  preaching  and  pastoral  services  to  an  un- 
usually great  age.  Thomas  K.  Beecher,  D.D.,  was  for 
forty-six  years  pastor  at  Elmira,  New  York,  and  built 
up  a  strong  church  by  original  methods.  He  was 
a  pioneer  in  the  institutional  church  work  which  has 
gained  such  prestige  in  our  day.  Henry  Ward  Beecher 
easily  has  the  first  place  among  preachers  of  the 
nineteenth  century.  Harriet  Beecher  Stowe  takes  first 
rank  among  American  novelists.  Catherine  Beecher 
was  a  pioneer  in  the  higher  education  of  women,  and  an 
author  of  educational  works  which  had  a  wide  influence. 
Isabella  Beecher  Hooker  was  Connecticut's  most  promi- 
nent woman's  suffragist. 

If  my  information  in  regard  to  the  families  of  Litch- 
field County  ministers  were  as  extensive  as  my  ignorance, 
it  would  be  very  easy  to  enlarge  this  chapter  to  a  book. 
It  would  be  difficult  to  find  a  community  in  which  many 
of  the  leading  and  most  influential  citizens  are  not  de- 
scended from  the  families  of  ministers.  I  have  no  doubt 
that  if  all  the  facts  could  be  properly  collected  and  pre- 
sented, so  that  all  might  know  what  the  world  owes  to 
the  children  of  ministers,  the  public  would  be  glad  to 
pay  the  life  salaries  of  country  ministers  for  the  sake  of 
this  product  alone,  and  that  great  philanthropists  would 

1:200 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

be  eager  to  provide  the  means  for  educating  the  children 
of  all  country  pastors.  It  is  possible,  however,  that  in 
this  way  clerical  life  would  be  made  so  much  easier  and 
more  luxurious  that  the  family  fiber  would  be  weakened, 
and  deteriorate  in  quality.  On  the  whole,  it  may  be  that 
greater  publicity  in  this  matter  would  not  be  desirable. 


1:202] 


APPENDIX 


AUTHORITIES  CONSULTED 

Contributions  to  the  Ecclesiastical  History  of  Connecticut. 
Minutes  of  the  General  Association  and  General  Conference  of 

Connecticut. 
Records  of  the  Litchfield  County  Associations,  Consociations, 

and  Monthly  Conventions. 
Centennial  Papers,  published  by  the  General  Conference  of 

Connecticut,  1876. 
Congregational  Year  Books. 
Catalogues  of  Yale  University. 
Diary  of  Thomas  Robbins,  D.D.  (Boston,  1886). 
History  of  Litchfield  County  (J.  W.  Lewis  &  Co.,  Philadelphia, 

1881). 
Annals  of  Winchester  (John  Boyd,  1876). 
History  of  Torrington  (Samuel  Orcutt,  1878). 
History  of  Goshen  (A.  G.  Hibbard,  1897). 
Cothren's  History  of  Ancient  Woodbury. 
History  of  Sharon  (C.  S.  Sedgwick). 
History  of  Cornwall  (T.  S.  Gold). 

1:203] 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

History  of  Ellsworth  (G.  F.  Goodenough,  1900). 

History  of  Connecticut  (Trumbull). 

Historjf  of  Norfolk  (Crissey). 

Connecticut  Evangelical  Magazine. 

Christian  Spectator. 

The  New  Englander. 

Bellamy's  Works  (3  vols.,  edited  by  the  Rev.  Noah  Benedict). 

Sermons  by  Backus,  by  Griffin,  by  Lathrop. 

Autobiographies  of  Lyman  Beecher  and  Charles  G.  Finney. 

Concise  Cyclopedia  of  Religious  Knowledge  (Elias  B.  Sanford, 

D.D.,  LL.D.). 
Poganuc  People  and  Old  Town  Folks  (Harriet  Beecher 

Stowe). 
Sketches  of  Church  Life  in  Colonial  Connecticut  (Lucy  C. 

Jarvis). 
Colonial  Days  and  Ways  (Helen  Evertson  Smith,  Century  Co., 

1900). 
Sermons,  and  Trial  of  Virtue  (Chauncey  Lee,  D.D.). 
Volumes  of  Selected  Sermons  (1798  and  181 2). 
Sermons  in  National  Preacher. 
Works  of  Horace  Bushnell,  and  Biography. 
Proceedings  at  the  Litchfield  County  Centennial. 
Addresses  at  the  Centennial,  and  the  One  Hundred  and  Fiftieth 

Anniversary  of  the  Consociations  of  Litchfield  County. 
Sprague's  Annals  of  the  American  Pulpit. 
Samuel  J.  Mills,  Missionary  Pathfinder  (Thomas  C.  Richards, 

1906). 
Reports  of  Anniversaries  and  Other  Items  from  the  Litchfield 

Enquirer,  Winsted  Herald,  New  Milford  Gazette,  Newtown 

Bee,  Connecticut  Western  News,   Hartford  Courant,  Tor- 

rington  Register. 

[204] 


APPENDIX 

Sermons  or  Addresses  on  Special  Occasions  by  Cotton  Mather 
Smith,  Ammi  R.  Robbins,  Ebenezer  Porter,  D.D.,  Stanley 
Griswold,  Ralph  Emerson,  D.D.,  Joseph  Eldridge,  D.D., 
Frederick  Marsh,  Adam  Reid,  D.D.,  Lavalette  Perrin,  D.D., 
James  H.  Dill,  William  E.  Bassett,  Hiram  Eddy,  D.D.,  C. 
L.  Kitchel,  William  H.  Moore,  John  C.  Goddard,  Edward 
C.  Starr,  and  others. 


LISTS  OF  CONGREGATIONAL  MINISTERS 

The  plan  of  the  following  lists  is  to  arrange  under  each  town 
the  pastors  of  each  church,  in  chronological  order,  with  dates  as 
far  as  known,  followed  by  names  of  ministers  who  by  birth  or 
training  may  be  considered  as  belonging  to  the  town.  It  is  not 
probable  that  accuracy  or  completeness  has  been  attained. 

BARKHAMSTED 

Pastors  Called  Dismissed             Died 

Ozias  Eells    . 1787  1813 

Elihu  Mason 1814  1817 

Saul  Clark 1819  1829 

William  R.  Gould      ....  1832  1838 

Reuben  S.  Hazen 1843  1849 

William  Goodwin 1849  1850 

Aaron  Gates 1850  1850 

Hugh  Gibson 1850  1852 

A.  B.  Collins 1852  1853 

Piatt  T.  Holley 1853  1855 

1874  1876 

1:2053 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

BARKHAMSTED— Continued 

Pastors  Called  Dismissed             Died 

F.   Norwood 1855                1857 

T.  E.  Roberts 1858             1859 

John  Elliott 1 861              1863 

H.  N.  Gait 1863             1866 

John  R.  Freeman 1868             1871 

R.  Henry  Gidman 1 87 1              1 873 

Aaron  B.  Peffers 1877              1880 

Joseph  B.  Clarke 1881              1888 

Ursinus  Olevianus  Mohr      .     .  1890              1892 

Augustus  Alvord 1892             1903 

W.  L.  Linaberry 1 903              1 905 

Henry  F.  Burdon 1905              1907 

Jacob  L.  Hartsell 1909 


BARKHAMSTED  (RIVERTON) 

Luther  H.  Barber 1843  1861  1908 

Winthrop  H.  Phelps    .     .     .     .  1861  1863 

Piatt  T.  Holley 1863  1868 

1872  1874 

Joseph  W.  Hartshorne     ...  1869  1871 

Frank  C.  Potter 

M.  C.  Wood 

W.  W.  Leete,  DD 

David  J.  Ogden      ..... 

Rolla  S.  Bugbee 1879  1880 

Francis  H.  Viets 1882  1887 

Frank  J.  Nute 1887  1888 

[206] 


APPENDIX 


BARKHAMSTED  (RIVERTON)— Continued 
Pastors  Called  Dismissed 


Died 


Frank  P,  Waters    .     .     . 

1888 

1891 

Clay  Dent  Chunn  .     . 

1891 

1892 

George  E.   Lincoln     .     . 

1892 

1894 

W.  W.  Davidson    .     . 

1895 

1896 

George  S.  Richards     .     . 

1896 

BETHLEHEM 

Joseph  Bellamy,  D.D.      .     .     .     1738 

1789 

Azel  Backus,  D.D.      . 

1791 

1813 

1816 

John  Langdon   . 

1816 

1825 

1830 

Benjamin  F.  Stanton 

1825 

1829 

1843 

Paul  Couch  .... 

1829 

1834 

Fosdick   Harrison   .     . 

1835 

1850 

1858 

Aretas  G.  Loomis  .     . 

1850 

i860 

Ephraim  M.  Wright   . 

1861 

1865 

George  Wallace  Banks 

1866 

1874 

S.  Fielder  Palmer   . 

1875 

1878 

William  E.  Bassett      . 

1879 

1885 

Cornelius  W.  Morrow 

1885 

1886 

John  P.  Trowbridge    . 

1888 

1892 

Reginald  B.  Bury   .     . 

.     1893 

1894 

Edward  P.  Ayer      .     . 

.     1894 

1898 

Adam  R.  Lutz   .     .     . 

.     1899 

1902 

Roy  M.  Houghton 

•     1903 

1905 

Charles  M.  Good   .     . 

.     1906 

C^o?] 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 


MINISTERS    RAISED    UP 

Robert  Crane  Frederick  Munson 

Charles  Prentice  Winfred  C.  Rhodes 

Homer  Prentice  Moses  Raymond 

Dwight  C.  Stone  Julius  Steele 

David  Brown  Newell  M.  Calhoun 
Benjamin  C.  Meigs 


BRIDGEWATER 

Pastors  Called  Dismissed             Died 

Reuben  Taylor 1810  181 5 

Fosdick  Harrison 1824  1829 

1854  1858 

Maltby  Gelston 1 831  1832 

Samuel  Hume 1832  1833 

Albert  B.  Camp 1834  1843 

James  Kilbourne 1843  1850 

Dillon  Williams 1850  1853 

Lemuel  S,  Potwin i860  1863 

Henry  G.  Hunt 1863  1866 

William  T.  Dean 1866  1871 

John  Birge  Doolittle   ....  1872  1878 

S.  Fielder  Palmer 1879  1880 

Eugene  F.  Atwood       .     .     .     .  1881  1883 

John  E.  Elliott 1884  1886 

Louis  F.  Burgess 1888  1891 

Frank  B.  Doane 1893  1894 

John  Owen  Jones 1894  1896 


APPENDIX 

BRIDGEWATER— Continued 
Pastors  Called  Dismissed  Died 


William  W.  Wallace  .     . 

.     .      1896 

1897 

Warren  Morse  .... 

.     .      1897 

1900 

Fred  W.  Raymond       .     . 

.     .     1901 

1902 

Dempster  D.  Gorton  ,     . 

.     .     1902 

1906 

Harry  Davenport    . 

.     .      1907 

MINISTERS    RAISED    UP 


Joseph  Treat  Julius  O.  Beardsley 

Isaac  C.  Beach  Levi  Smith 

Albert  E.  Dunning,  D.D.  Philo  R.  Hurd 
William  A.  Hawley 


CANAAN 

Pastors                                             Called  Dismissed             Died 

Elisha  Webster I740  1752 

Daniel  Farrand 1752  1803 

Charles  Prentice 1 804  1838 

Edward  B.  Emerson    .     .     .     .     1841  1843 

Harley  Goodwin 1845  1854              1855 

Isaac  DeVoe 1855  1856 

Henry  Snyder 1858  i860 

E.  Frank  Howe 1862  1865 

Edwin  N.  Andrews     ....     1865  1867 

William  H.  Teel 1867  1869 

1  Joseph  E.  Swallow    ....     1870  1873 

Edwin  Hull 1873  1874 

'Simultaneous. 
[2093 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 


CANAAN— Continued 


Pastors 
1  Nathaniel  G.  Bonney 
^Joseph  A.  Tomlinson 
1  Daniel  M.  Moore     . 
1  Charles  Wesley  Hanna 
^John  Lewis  Evans 
1  Arthur  F.  Hertell     . 
^J.  Fraser  Evans    . 
1  Park  A.  Bradford      . 


Called 

Dismissed 

1874 

1876 

1876 

1877 

1878 

1888 

1889 

1 901 

19OI 

1903 

1904 

1905 

1907 

1908 

1908 

Died 


MINISTERS   RAISED    UP 


Charles  F.  Prentice 
Lyman  Prindle 
Cyrus  Prindle 


Robert  Campbell 
Cyrus  G.  Prindle 


CANAAN   (FALLS  VILLAGE) 


Pastors 

Called 

Dismissed 

Henry  A.  Russell    .     . 

.      1858 

1859 

John  Edgar   .... 

.      l8S9 

1866 

Henry  B.  Mead      .     . 

*            -^  ^^  ^  J 

.      1869 

1870 

^Joseph  E.  Swallow    . 

.      1870 

1873 

1  Nathaniel  G.  Bonney 

.      1873 

1876 

^Joseph  A.  Tomlinson 

.      1876 

1877 

F.  J.  Grimes 

•      1877 

1878 

1  Daniel  M.  Moore      . 

•            ^  ^    /   / 

.      1878 

1888 

'  Charles  W.  Hanna    . 

.      1889 

1 901 

] 

Sir 

nultaneous. 

[ 

;2io:] 

Died 


APPENDIX 


CANAAN  (FALLS  VILLAGE) -Continued 
Pastors  Called  Dismissed 

ij.  Lewis  Evans 1901  1903 

1  Arthur  F  Hertell       ....     1904  1906 

ij.  Fraser  Evans 1907  1908 

1  Park  A.  Bradford       ....     1908 


Died 


COLEBROOK 


Jonathan  Edwards,  D 
Chauncey  Lee,  D.D. 
Azariah  Clark    . 
Edward  R.  Tyler 
Alfred  E.  Ives   . 
James  R.  Mershon 
Archibald  Geikie 
Joel  Grant     .     . 
Henry  A.  Russell 
Joseph  B.  Clarke 
J.  W.  Hartshorne 
Daniel  M.  Moore 
Benjamin  A.  Dean 
William  Hedges 


D. 


1795 
1800 
1830 

1833 
1838 
1850 

1854 
1867 
1868 
1878 
1884 
1888 

1895 
1901 


1799 
1828 

1836 
1848 
1852 
1863 
1868 

1877 
1884 
1887 
1894 
1 901 


1 801 
1842 
1832 
1848 


MINISTERS    RAISED    UP 


Chauncey  G.  Lee 
John  P.  Cowles 
Gilbert  Stocking 
Charles  Rockwell 


Joel  Grant 
Joel  S.  Ives 
Henry  Cowles,  D.D. 
William  H.  Gilbert 


^  Simultaneous. 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

CORNWALL  (FIRST) 

Pastors  Called  Dismissed  Died 

Solomon  Palmer 1741  I754 

Hezekiah  Gold,  Jr 1755  I790 

Hercules  Weston 1792  1803  1831 

Timothy  Stone 1803  1827  1852 

William  Andrews 1827  1838 

Nathaniel  M.  Urmston    .     .     .  1838  1840 

Hiram  Day 1844  1848 

Ralph  Smith 1851  1854 

Ira  Pettibonc 1854  1857 

Stephen  Fenn 1859  1867 

Elias  B.  Sanford,  D.D.,  LL.D.  1869  1871 

Newell  A.  Prince 1872  1874 

Samuel  G.  White,  D.D.  .     .     .  1875  1884 

Henry  B.  Mead 1885  1886 

Oscar  J.  Mclntire 1886  1887 

Edward  Comfort  Starr    .     .     .  1888 

CORNWALL  (SECOND) 

Samuel  Bird 

John  Cornwall 

Israel  Holley I795  1801 

Josiah  Hawes 1805  1813 

Grove  L.  Brownell      .     .     .     .  1817  1818 

Walter  Smith 18 19  1838 

S.  J.  Nacy 1838  1839 

Joshua  L.  Maynard     ....  1841  1852 

William  B.  Clarke      ....  1855  1859 

[;2I2] 


APPENDIX 

CORNWALL  (SECOND) -Continued 

Pastors                                             Called  Dismissed             Died 

Charles  Wetherby 1859  1866 

Jesse  Brush 1867  1873 

Charles  N.  Fitch 1873  1882 

1905 

Wayland  Spalding       ....     1882  1883 

William  H.  McDougal   .     .     .     1884  1887 

John  Pierpont 1888  1897 

Chester  A.  Ferris 1897  iQOi 

Carl  Stackman 1902  1905 


MINISTERS    RAISED    UP 
First  Church 

William  Bonney  E.  B.  Andrews 

William  Watson  Andrews  Cornelius  B.  Everitt 

E.  Warren  Andrews  Lucius  C.  Rouse 

William  Jackson,  D.D.  Samuel  J.  Andrews,  D.D. 

Thomas  R.  Gold  T.  D.  P.  Stone 

Second  Church 

John  C.  Hart  Samuel  Scoville 

Henry  G.  Pendleton  Henry  Wadsworth 

Almon  B.  Pratt  Dwight  M.  Pratt,  D.D. 


GOSHEN 
Pastors  Called 

Stephen  Heaton 174° 

Abel  Newell 1755 


dismissed 

Died 

1753 

1788 

1781 

1813 

THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

GOSHEN— Continued 

Pastors  Called  Dismissed             Died 

Josiah  Sherman 1783  1789 

Asahel  Hooker 1791  1810             1813 

Joseph  Harvey 1810  1825 

Francis  H.  Case 1826  1828 

Grant  Powers 1829  1841 

Lavalette  Perrin,  D.D.    .     .     .  1845  1857 

Joel  T.  Bingham 1859  i860 

William  T.  Doubleday    ...  1864  1871 

Timothy  A.  Hazen      ....  1872  1882 

Daniel  B.  Lord 1883  1888 

Augustine  G.  Hibbard      .     .     .  1890  1896 

Harry  E.  Small 1897 


GOSHEN  (NORTH  GOSHEN) 

Allen  McLean 1807 

George  Carrington       ....  1829  1833 

Guy  C.  Sampson 1836  1837 

C.G.Tracy 1837  1839 

Chester  Colton 1839  1846 

Fred  Marsh 1846  1847 


MINISTERS    RAISED    UP 

Noah  Wadhams  William  Thompson,  D.D. 

Edward  W.  Hooker,  D.D.  James  Beach 

Darius  O.  Griswold  Abraham  Baldwin,  D.D. 


APPENDIX 

MINISTERS   RAISED   UP  — CONTINUED 


Reuben  Parmalee 

Elisha  Parmalee 

Orlo  Bartholomew                          Ephrairr 

Lyman 

Luther  Hart                                     Mark  Ives 

Augustus  Thompson,  D.D.           Luther 

H.  Beecher,  D.D 

A.  T.  Norton                                  John  F. 

Norton 

Theron  Baldwin,  D.D. 

HARWINTON 

Pastors                                             Called 

Dismissed 

Died 

Timothy  Woodbridge       .     .     .      I735 

1737 

1776 

Andrew  Bartholomew 

1738 

1774 

1817 

David  Perry 

1774 

1783 

Joshua  Williams      .     . 

1790 

1822 

1835 

George  E.  Pierce,  D.D 

1822 

1834 

R.  M.  Chipman      .     . 

1835 

1839 

Charles  Bentley       .     . 

1839 

1850 

Warren  G.  Jester   . 

1850 

1853 

Jacob  G.  Miller      . 

1854 

1857 

John  A    McKinstry 

1857 

1863 

Robert  T.  Searle     . 

1864 

1865 

Charles  H.  Bissell   . 

.     1865 

1866 

George  Curtis,  D.D. 

.     1866 

1876 

William  N.  Meserve 

.     1878 

1880 

Thomas  Douglass   . 

.     1880 

1883 

Alexander  Hall 

.     1883 

1885 

Eugene  F.  Atwood 

.     1886 

1887 

Frederick  E.  Snow 

.     1888 

1890 

Willis  M.  Cleaveland 

.     1891 

1892 

1 

"2 

153 

THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

HARWINTON-CONTINUED 
Pastors  Called  Dismissed  Died 

William  Hedges 1894  1899 

Charles  B.  Strong 1900  1905 

J.  G.  W.  Harold 1905  1907 

Benjamin  P.  Capshaw      .     .     .     1907 


MINISTERS   RAISED    UP 


Noxris  Buell,  D.D. 
Jacob  Catlin,  D.D. 
David  Perry 
Abner  Wilcox 
David  Butler,  D.D. 
Russell  Catlin 


Rodney  Rossiter 
Richard  Chester 
Simeon  Catlin 
Clement  Merriam 
H.  C.  Abernethy 
Richard  C.  Bristol 


KENT 

Pastors  Called 

Cyrus  Marsh 1 741 

Joel  Bordwell 1758 

Asa  Blair 1813 

Laurens  P.  Hickok,  D.D,     .     .  1823 

William  W.  Andrews       .     .     .  1834 

William  W.  Page 1853 

Elisha  Whittlesey 1856 

Evarts  Scudder 1859 

Edward  P.  Payson 1867 

Arthur  Crosby 1872 


Dismissed 

1755 


1829 
1849 

1854 
1858 
1866 
1871 
1873 


Died 

181I 
1823 


APPENDIX 


Pastors 

Thomas  D.  Barclay  . 

Juba  Howe  Vorce  .  . 

Elbert  S.  Porter      .  . 
Benjamin  Mead  Wright 

Herbert  K.  Job  .     .  . 

George  Curtis,  D.D.  . 
Clarence  H.  Perry 


KENT— Continued 
Called 


1873 
1879 
1883 
1889 
1898 

1909 


Dismissed 
1878 
1883 
1888 
1896 
1908 


Died 


MINISTERS   RAISED    UP 


Samuel  J.  Mills 
Edmund  Mills 
Seth  Swift 


Birdsey  G.  Northrup 
Walter  Smith 


LITCHFIELD 

Pastors  Called  Dismissed 

Timothy  Collins 1723  1752 

Judah  Champion 1753 

Dan  Huntington 1798  1 809 

Lyman  Beecher,  D.D.       .     .     .  1810  1826 

Daniel  L.  Carroll,  D.D.  .     .     .  1827  1829 

Laurens  P.  Hickok,  D.D.      .     .  1829  1836 

Jonathan  Brace,  D.D.       .     .     .  1838  1844 

Benjamin  L.  Swan 1846  1856 

Leonard  W.  Bacon,  D.D.     .     .  1856  1859 

George  Richards 1861  1865 

William  B.  Clarke      ....  1866  1869 

Henry  M.  Elliott 1870  1874 

1:217;] 


Died 
1776 
181O 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

LITCHFIELD— Continued 
Pastors  Called  Dismissed  Died 

Allen  B.  McLean 1875  1881 

Charles  Symington       ....     1883  1893 

John  Hutchins 1895 


LITCHFIELD   (NORTHFIELD) 

Joseph  Eleazer  Camp  ....  1795  1837 

J.  S.  Dickinson 1844  1851 

Lewis  Jessup 1851  1854 

Noah  Coe 1854  1856 

Stephen  Rogers 1856  1859 

James  Richards,  D.D,      .     .     .  1859  i860 

Erastus  Colton 1 861  1864 

Hiram  N.  Gates 1866  1871 

Elias  B.  Sanford,  D.D.,  LL.D.  .  1871  1873 

William  Howard 1875  1876 

H.  Augustus  Ottmann      .     .     .  1877  188 1 

Edward  Comfort  Starr    ...  188 1  1888 

Joseph  Kyte 1888  1893 

Fred  Louis  Grant 1895  1905 

Giles  Frederic  Goodenough  .     .  1907 


LITCHFIELD  (MILTON) 

Benjamin  Judd 1802  1804 

Abraham  Fowler 1807  18 13 

Asahel  Nettleton,  D.D.    .     .     .  181 3 

Levi  Smith 1825 


APPENDIX 

LITCHFIELD  (MILTON) -Continued 

Pastors  Called  Dismissed 

Ralph  Smith 1841  1844 

John  F.  Norton 1844  1849 

Herman  L.  Vaill 1849  1851 

Francis  Williams 1851  1853 

James  Noyes 1853  1854 

George  J.  Harrison      ....  1854  1893 

Aurelian  Post 1894  1895 

Wesley  E,  Page 1896  1903 

Joseph  D.  Prigmore    ....  1904  1906 

Pearl  E.  Mathias 1906  1907 

Thomas  Abner  Williams .     .     .  1908 


Died 


MINISTERS    RAISED    UP 


Charles  Wadsworth,  D.D. 
Ethan  Osborn 
George  Beecher 
Thomas  K.  Beecher,  D.D. 
Oscar  Bissell 
Almon  B.  Pratt 
Benjamin  Osborn 
Charles  L.  Bunce 
Holland  Weeks 
J.  Newton  Woodruff 
Wallace  Warner 
Lewis  Munger 
William  J.  Peck 
David  L.  Parmalee 
Edward  P.  Abbe 


Charles  Beecher 
James  Beecher 
Ambrose  Collins 
James  Kilbourne 
Fred  R.  Abbe 
John  Churchill 
Jeremiah  Woodruff 
George  C.  Woodruff 
William  H.  Guernsey 
Isaac  Warner 

McNeil 

Edward  Beecher,  D.D. 
Henry  Ward  Beecher,  D.D. 
Edward  Nolan 
Stephen  Mason 

1:219:] 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 


MINISTERS   RAISED   UP  —  CONTINUED 


Herman  L.  Vaill 
Horace  Bushnell,  D.D. 
Hezekiah  B.  Pierpont 
Lewis  H.  Woodruff 


Noah  Bishop 
Lewis  Smith 
Albert  B.  Camp 


MORRIS 

Pastors                                             Called 

Dismissed 

George  Beckwith 1772 

1781 

Amos  Chase  .     .     .     . 

1787 

1814 

William  R.  Weeks,  D.D. 

1815 

1816 

Amos  Pettingill       .     . 

1816 

1822 

Henry  Robinson      .     . 

.      1823 

1829 

Vernon  D.  Taylor  ,     . 

1831 

1833 

James  F.  Warner   .     . 

1833 

1834 

Ralph  S.  Crampton 

1834 

1836 

Stephen  Hubbell      .     . 

1836 

1837 

B.  Y.  Messenger     .     . 

1837 

1838 

Richard  Woodruff 

1838 

184I 

David  L.  Parmalee 

1841 

1859 

H.  H.  McFarland  .     . 

1859 

1861 

Cyrus  W.  Pickett   .     . 

1864 

1866 

D.  D.  T.  McLaughlin 

1867 

1871 

Richard  Gidman     .     . 

1872 

1875 

Edwin  Leonard 

1875 

1892 

Charles  C.  Redgrave   . 

1895 

1898 

F.  A.  Holden     .     .     . 

1898 

1902 

Francis  W.  Fletcher    . 

1903 

Died 


1:220] 


APPENDIX 

MINISTERS   RAISED    UP 

Samuel  Whittlesey  John  W.  Peck,  D.D. 

Simeon  Woodruff  John  Pierpont 

Samuel  G.  Orton 

NEPAUG 

Pastors                                           Called  Dismissed            Died 

Augustus  Smith 1849  1851 

James  Clay  Houghton      .     .     .     1851  1854 

Edwin  Hall 1854  1869 

Brown  Emerson 1869  1870 

J.  N.  Woodruff 1870  1871 

Stephen  A.  Loper 1872  1874 

Merrick  Knight 1875  1880 

Richard  Scoles 1880  1883 

E.  C.  Haynes 1884  1885 

Vergil  W.  Blackman   ....     1885  1887 

William  Miller 1887  1890 

J.  Lewis  Evans 1891  1892 

Charles  H.  Stevens      ....     1892  1895 

William  H.  Gay 1895  1896 

G.  F.  Goodenough 1896  1898 

Malan  H.  Wright 1898  1903 

Grace  Edwards 1903 


MINISTERS   RAISED    UP 

Peter  A.  Brinsmade  Frederick  Marsh 

Horace  Tracy  Pitkin  John  B.  Lyman 


Solomon  J.  Douglas 


1:221:] 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 


NEW  HARTFORD 
Pastors  Called 

Jonathan  Marsh 1739 

Edward  Dorr  Griffin,  D.D.  .     .     1795 

Amasa  Jerome 1802 

Cyrus  Yale ■    .     1814 


ismissed 

Died 

1794 

1801 

1837 

1813 

1854 

NEW  HARTFORD  (NORTH  CHURCH) 


Burr  Baldwin     . 
Willis  Lord  .... 
John  Woodbridge,  D.D. 
Hiram  Day   .... 
Alexander  Leadbetter  . 
Joseph  A.  Saxton    . 
Franklin  A.  Spencer    . 
James  B.  Cleaveland   . 
Alpheus  Winter      .     . 
Sanford  S.  Martyn 
Fred  H.  Adams      .     . 
John  P.  Hawley 
Frank  S.  Brewer 
Edward  O.  Grisbrook 


1829 

1833 

1834 

1838 

1839 

1842 

1842 

1844 

1844 

1849 

1850 

1852 

1853 

1863 

1863 

1867 

1868 

1870 

1870 

1874 

1875 

1887 

1888 

1898 

1898 

1906 

1907 

NEW  MILFORD 

Daniel  Boardman 1 7 16 

Nathanael  Taylor 1748 

Stanley  Griswold 1790 

[222;] 


1802 


1744 
1800 


APPENDIX 

NEW  MILFORD— Continued 

Pastors  Called           Dismissed 

Andrew  Eliot 1808 

Heman  Rood 1830  1835 

Noah  Porter,  D.D.,  LL.D.  .     .  1836  1842 

John  Greenwood 1844  1849 

David  Murdock,  D.D.     .     .     .  1850  1869 

James  Bonar 1 870  1883 

George  S.  Thrall 1884  1885 

Timothy  J.  Lee 1885  1888 

Frank  A.  Johnson 1889  1 907 

George  H.  Johnson      ....  1908 


Died 

1829 


MINISTERS    RAISED    UP 


John  Treat  Baldwin  , 
John  Stephens 
Benjamin  Wildman 
Nathanael  W.  Taylor,  D.D. 
Daniel  Marsh 
Gideon  Bostwick 
Elizur  Beecher 
Asahel  Bronson 
Whitman  Welch 
David  Bronson 


Orlo  D.  Hine 
Charles  Boardman 
George  Ladd 
David  Sanford 
David  Baldwin 
Joseph  Treat 
Merritt  S.  Piatt 
David  Bostwick 
George  Sterling 


NORFOLK 
Pastors  Called  Dismissed 

Ammi  Ruhamah  Robbins       .     .     1 761 
Ralph  Emerson,  D.D.      .     .     .     1815  1829 


Died 
1813 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 


NORFOl 

^K— Continued 

Pastors 

Called 

Dismissed 

Died 

Joseph  Eldridge,  D.D.      . 

.      1832 

1874 

1875 

John  Wickliffe  Beach  .     . 

.      1874 

1876 

John  F.  Gleason     .     .     . 

.      1876 

1885 

John  DePeu 

.      1885 

1897 

William  F.  Stearns 

.      1897 

MINISTERS    RAISED    UP 


Thomas  Robbins,  D.D. 
Nathan  Turner 
Joseph  L.  Mills 
Asahel  Gaylord 
Frederick  T.  Persons 
James  W.  Robbins 
Eleazur  Holt 


Sheridan  Guiteau 
Reuben  Gaylord 
Francis  LeBaron  Robbins 
Isaac  Knapp 
Ira  Pettibone 
Joseph  F.  Gaylord 


NORTH  CANAAN   (EAST  CANAAN) 

Pastors  Called           Dismissed 

Asahel  Hart 1770 

Amos  Thompson 1782  1788 

Joshua  Knapp 1791  1795 

Solomon  Morgan 1798 

Pitkin  Cowles 1805 

Henry  H.  Woodbridge    .     .     .  1833  1842 

Daniel  D.  Francis 1844  1850 

Elisha  Whittlesey 1851  1853 

Hiram  Eddy,  D.D 1856  i860 

Henry  M.  Grant 1863  1866 

1:224;] 


Died 

1775 


1804 
1833 


APPENDIX 


NORTH  CANAAN  (EAST  CANAAN) -Continued 


Pastors 
Isaac  P.  Powell  .  . 
Lewis  G.  Reid  .  . 
William  Thompson 
Eugene  F.  Atwood 
Horace  G.  Hoadley 
Henry  Utterwick  . 
Charles  Wesley  Hanna 


Called 
1868 

1874 
1882 
1884 
1886 
1891 
1901 


Dismissed 

1874 
1879 
1884 
1886 
1891 
1900 


Died 


NORTH  CANAAN   (PILGRIM) 

Dwight  C.  Stone 1888 

Charles  D.  Milliken    ....  1892 

Sidney  A.  Burnaby      ....  1897 

Edwin  C.  Gillette 1902 


MINISTERS    RAISED    UP 


Grove  L.  Brownell 
Zalmon  Tobey 
Linus  Fellowes 


Timothy  Benedict 
Aaron  Peale 
Calvin  Peale 


PLYMOUTH 
Pastors  Called  Dismissed 

Samuel  Todd 1740  1764 

Andrew  Storrs 1765 

Joseph  Badger 1786  1787 

[225] 


Died 

1789 
1785 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 


PLYMOUTH— Continued 


Pastors 
Simon  Waterman 
Luther  Hart 
Ephraim  Lyman 
Israel  P.  Warren,  D.D. 
Erskine  J,  Hawes 
Robert  C.  Learned 
Henry  E.  Cooley 
EUas  B.  Hillard 
John  Sheridan  Zelie,  D.D 
Charles  H.  Smith 
Edwin  J.  Lewis 
Theodore  B.  Lathrop 


Called 

Dismissed 

Died 

1787 

1809 

1813 

1810 

1834 

1835 

1851 

1851 

1856 

1858 

i860 

1861 

1865 

1866 

1869 

1869 

1889 

1890 

1894 

1895 

1903 

1904 

1907 

1908 

PLYMOUTH   (TERRYVILLE) 


Nathaniel  Richardson  .     . 

.     .     1838 

1840 

Merrill  Richardson      .     . 

.     .     1841 

1846 

1849 

1858 

Judson  A.  Root  .     .     .     . 

.     .     1846 

1847 

John  Monteith  .     .     .     . 

.     .     1858 

i860 

A.  Hastings  Ross    .     .     . 

Edwin  R.  Dimock  . 

.     .     1861 

1862 

Franklin  A.  Spencer    .     . 

.     .      1863 

1865 

E.M.Wright    .     .     .     . 

.     .      1866 

1870 

Henry  B.  Mead       .     .     . 

.     .      1871 

1874 

Leverett  S.  Griggs  . 

.     .      1874 

1887 

William  F.  Arms    .     .     . 

.     .      1888 

1893 

William  A.  Gay      .     .     . 

.     .     1893 

1902 

Spencer  E.  Evans    .     . 

.     .      1 902 

APPENDIX 


MINISTERS   RAISED    UP 


Edwin  Johnson 
Linus  Blakeslee 


Pastors 
Thomas  Canfield    . 
Zephaniah  Swift     . 
Fosdic  Harrison 
Austin  Isham      .     . 
Oliver  S.  Dean,  D.D. 
Arthur  Goodenough 
David  E.  Jones  .     . 
H.  H.  Morse     .     . 
George  H.  Burgess 
Mosheim  R.  Fishburn 
J.  Jones  Vaughan   . 
George  A.  Bushee   . 
Alfred  E.  Thistleton 
Clay  Dent  Chunn  . 


Moseley  H 

.  Williams 

Horace  R. 

Williams 

ROXBURY 

Called 

Dismissed 

Died 

•      .      .      .      1774 

1795 

1795 

1812 

1848 

1813 

1835 

1858 

1839 

1863 

1864 

1867 

1869 

1870 

1871 

1887 

1887 

1888 

1888 

1889 

1890 

1891 

1893 

1895 

1896 

1900 

1901 

1903 

1905 

1908 

MINISTERS   RAISED    UP 


David  B.  Davidson 


SALISBURY 
Pastors  Called 

Jonathan  Lee 1743 

William  F.  Miller 1790 

[2273 


Dismissed 


Died 
1788 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 


SALISBURY— Continued 


Pastors 
John  Eliot     .     .     . 
James  Glossbrook    . 
Ebenezer  Porter,  D.D 
Timothy  M.  Cauley,  D.D 
Joseph  W.  Grossman 
John  B.  Whittlesey 
William  R.  Weeks,  D 
Chauncey  A.  Goodrich 
Federal  Burt      .     . 
Lavius  Hyde      .     . 
William  C.  Fowler 
L.  E.  Lathrop,  D.D. 
Adam  Reid,  D.D.   . 
Cornelius  L.  Kitchel 
John  Calvin  Goddard 


D. 
,  D.D 


Called 

Dismissed 

1791 

1792 

1793 

1795 

1795 

1796 

1812 

1813 

1814 

1815 

1815 

1816 

1817 

1822 

1823 

1825 

1836 

1836 

1877 

1877 

1883 

1884 

Died 


I812 


1848 


1857 


MINISTERS   RAISED    UP 


James  Hutchinson 
Chauncey  Lee,  D.D. 
Henry  P.  Strong 
Edmund  Janes 
Joseph  Pettee 
Eliphalet  Whittlesey 
Samuel  Camp 
Horace  Holley,  D.D. 


William  L.  Strong 

Josiah  Turner 

Henry  Pratt 

Isaac  Bird 

George  A.  Calhoun,  D.D. 

Edward  HoUister 

Edwin  Holmes 

EHsha  Whittlesey 


C^sn 


APPENDIX 


SHARON 

Pastors  Called  Dismissed             Died 

Peter  Pratt 1740  1747              1780 

John  Searl 1749  1754             1787 

Cotton  Mather  Smith       .     .     .  1755  1806 

David  L.  Perry 1804  1835 

Mason  Grosvenor 1836  1837 

Grove  L.  Brownell      ....  1840  1848 

Charles  Rockwell 1850  1851 

Thomas  G.  Corner      .     .     .     .  1851  1853 

Leonard  E.  Lathrop,  D.D.   .     .  1854  1857 

D.  D.  T.  McLaughlin      .     .     .  1859  1886 

A.  B.  Bullions,  D.D 1868  1878 

James  R.  Bourne 1880  1889 

Gerald  Stanley  Lee      ....  1889  1893 

Edward  O.  Dyer 1893  1906 

Allyn  K.  Foster 1906  1907 

Gilbert  L.  Forte 1907 


SHARON   (ELLSWORTH) 

Daniel  Parker 1802 

Orange  Lyman 1813 

Frederick  Gridley 1820 

John  W.  Beecher 1841 

William  W.  Baldwin  ....  1849 

William  J.  Alger 1852 

Porter  B.  Parry 1853 

Robert  D.  Gardner      ....  1858 

C229] 


I8I2 

1832 

I8I6 

I85I 

1836 

1847 

1858 

I85I 

1853 

1857 

1865 

THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 

SHARON  (ELLSWORTH) -Continued 

Pastors  Called  Dismissed             Died 

Arthur  Goodenough    ....  1865  1869 

Oscar  Bissell 1869  1870 

Andrew  Montgomery .     .     .     .  1870  1872 

William  Terrett 1872  1873 

John  O.  Stevenson,  D.D.      ,     .  1874  1879 

E.  C.  Hull 1880  1885 

John  H.  Miiller 1886  1889 

E.  C.  Haynes 1889  1890 

Idrys  Jones 1891  1893 

Evore  Evans 1894  1897 

G.  F.  Goodenough      ....  1898  1903 

Wesley  E.  Page 1903 


MINISTERS   RAISED   UP 


Jeremiah  Day 
William  Jewell 
Daniel  Smith 
David  C.  Perry 
George  I.  Keach 
Jacob  Chamberlain 
Charles  Y.  Chase 
Gad  Smith 
Gad  Smith,  2d 
Vinson  Gould 
John  M.  S.  Perry 
David  R.  Gould 
Charles  H.  Read 
Jesse  W.  Guernsey 


Walter  Chamberlain 
Alvin  Somers 
Willis  J.  Beecher,  D.D. 
Elisha  Frink 
Edwin  Bailey 
James  B.  Cleaveland 
Gilbert  L.  Smith 
Hiram  White 
William  Terrett 
Seymour  Landon 
Thomas  Beebe 
Milo  North  Miles 
W.  Alanson  Beecher 
William  Baldwin 


[230] 


APPENDIX 


THOMASTON 

Pastors  Called  Dismissed             Died 

Harvey  D.  Kitchell,  D.D.     .     .  1839  1848 

Joseph  D.  Hull 1849  1851 

James  Averill 1852  1862 

J.  B.  Pearson 

R.  P.  Searl 

Joseph  W.  Backus,  D.D.  .     .     .  1867  1878 

H.  C.  Hitchcock 1879  1880 

S.  M.  Freeland 1 88 1  1887 

Rolla  S.  Bugbee 1888  1891 

Robert  W.  Sharpe  .....  1892  1896 

Austin  Hazen 1897 


THOMASTON  (EAGLE  ROCK) 

Elias  B.  Sanford,  D.D.,  LL.D.  .     1878  1884 

Dighton  Moses 1888  1889 

Lydia  Hartig      ......     1905 


THOMASTON   (SWEDISH) 

Andrew  O.  Petersen    ....  1892  1893 

Henry  Soderholm 1893  1895 

Ferdinand  Scholander  ....  1896  1905 

Adolph  F.  Hogberg     ....  1905 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 


TORRINGTON 

Pastors                                             Called 

Dismissed 

Died 

Nathaniel  Roberts 1741 

1776 

Noah  Merwin    .     .     . 

1776 

1783 

1795 

Lemuel  Haynes       .     . 

1787 

1789 

1834 

Alexander  Gillette  .     . 

1792 

1826 

William  R.  Gould  .     . 

1827 

1832 

Milton  Huxley  .     .     . 

1832 

1842 

John  A.  McKinstry     . 

1842 

1857 

Charles  B.  Dye  .     .     . 

1859 

i860 

Sylvanus  P.  Marvin    . 

i860 

1865 

Jacob  A.  Strong      .     . 

1865 

1869 

Michael  J.  Callan  .     . 

1870 

1872 

Samuel  Orcutt   .     .     . 

1873 

1875 

Charles  P.  Croft     .     . 

1876 

1879 

Frank  F.  Jorden     .     . 

1881 

1884 

William  F.  Hutchins  . 

1884 

1886 

Ursinus  Olevianus  Mohr 

1887 

1889 

Charles  D.  Crawford  . 

1889 

1891 

E.  Chalmers  Haynes    . 

1891 

1892 

Andrew  W.  Gerrie 

1892 

1899 

Thomas  C.  Richards    . 

1899 

1906 

Charles  M.  Bryant 

1906 

TORRINGT 

ror 

^   ( 

TORRINGFORD) 

Stephen  Keaton 1761 

Ebenezer  Davenport    ....     1764 
Samuel  J.  Mills 1769 

[232;] 


1767 


1833 


APPENDIX 

TORRINGTON  (TORRINGFORD)- 

-Continued 

Pastors                                             Called 

Dismissed 

Epaphras  Goodman      ....     1822 

1836 

Herman  L.  Vaill    . 

1837 

1839 

Brown  Emerson 

1841 

1844 

John  D.  Baldwin    . 

1844 

1845 

William  H.  Moore 

1846 

1854 

Stephen  Fenn     .     . 

1854 

1857 

Charles  Newman     . 

1858 

1862 

Spencer  O.  Dyer     . 

1863 

1864 

Franklin  Noble  .     . 

1864 

1866 

Joseph  F.  Gaj'lord  . 

1866 

1868 

Dana  M.  Walcott  . 

1869 

1871 

Merrick  Knight 

1872 

1874 

George  R.  Ferguson 

1875 

1877 

Chester  Bridgeman 

1878 

1879 

Clarence  H.  Barber 

1880 

1887 

Henry  C.  Robinson 

1888 

1891 

Austin  H.  Norris   . 

1892 

G.  F.  Goodenough  . 

1903 

1907 

John  H.  Davis  .     . 

1908 

Died 


1903 


TORRINGTON  (THIRD,  CENTER) 

Henry  P.  Arms,  D.D.      .     .     .     1833  1836 

Stephen  Hubbell 1837  1839 

Samuel  Day 1840  1845 

Samuel  T.  Seelye,  D.D.   .     .     .      1846  1855 

Ralph  Smith 1856  1857 

E.L.Clarke 1857  1859 

[233] 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 


TORRINGTON  (THIRD,  CENTER) 
Pastors 
George  B.  Newcomb   .     . 
Edward  W.  Bacon  .     .     . 
Lavalette  Perrin,  D.D.     , 
Charles  E.  Andrews    .     . 
Henry  B.  Roberts   .     .     . 
James  A.  Chamberlin,  D.D. 
Alvin  F.  Sherrill,  D.D.    . 


Arthur  W.  Ackerman,  D.D. 


:enter 

)  —Continued 

Called 

Dismissed 

1869 

1871 

1872 

1887 

1887 

1889 

1890 

1898 

1899 

1 901 

1 901 

1902 

Died 


1902 


TORRINGTON   (FRENCH) 
Joseph  Provost 1897 


MINISTERS   RAISED    UP 


Timothy  Phelps  Gillette 
Miles  Grant 
Stanley  Griswold 
Orange  Lyman 
Abel  Knapp  Hinsdale 
David  Miller 
Jonathan  Miller 


Samuel  J.  Mills,  Jr. 
Lucius  Quintus  Curtis 
Jacob  Catlin,  D.D. 
David  B.  Lj'man 
Harvey  Loomis 
E.  D.  Moore 


WARREN 
Pastors  Called 

Silvanus  Osborn 1757 

Peter  Starr 1772 

1:234] 


Dismissed 


Died 

1771 
1829 


APPENDIX 

WARREN— Continued 

Pastors 

Called 

Dismissed 

Died 

Hart  Talcott      .     . 

....      1825 

1836 

Harley  Goodwin     . 

. 

1838 

1843 

1855 

John  R.  Keep 

1844 

1852 

M.  M.  Wakeman   . 

. 

1853 

1856 

Francis  Lobdell  .     . 

. 

1859 

1863 

William  E.  Bassett 

. 

1863 

1875 

Willis  F.  Colton     . 

1876 

1888 

Austin  Gardner  .     . 

1889 

1897 

Myron  A.  Munson 

1898 

1903 

William  E.  Brooks, 

D.D. 

1904 

1906 

Charles  A.  Pickett  . 

1907 

MINISTERS    RAISED    UP 


Reuben  Taylor 
Prince  Hawes 

Julian  M.  Sturtevant,  D.D. 
Myron  N.  Marvin 
Charles  Everitt 
Alanson  Sanders 
Charles  G.  Finney,  D.D. 
John  S.  Griffin 


Josiah  Hawes 
Nathaniel  Swift 
Urban  Palmer 
John  L.  Taylor,  D.D. 
Lucius  C.  Rouse 
Seth  Sackett 
Tertius  Reynolds 


WASHINGTON 
Pastors  Called 

Reuben  Judd 1742 

Daniel  Brinsmade i749 

Noah  Merwin 1785 


Dismissed 
1747 


Died 

1793 
1795 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 


WASHINGTON-CONTINUED 


Pastors 

Called 

Dismissed 

Ebenezer  Porter,  D.D.     .     .     .     1796 

1811 

Cyrus  W.  Gray       .     . 

1813 

1815 

Stephen  Mason  .     . 

1818 

1828 

Gordon  Hayes    .     . 

1829 

1851 

Ephraim  Lyman 

1852 

1863 

W.  H.  H.  Murray 

1864 

1865 

Willis  S.  Colton      . 

1866 

1876 

George  L.  Thrall    . 

1877 

1881 

William  Crawford 

1882 

1883 

Herbert  B.  Turner,  D 

.D. 

1884 

1893 

Robert  E.  Carter    .     , 

1894 

Died 


WASHINGTON  (NEW  PRESTON) 


Noah  Wadhams 

1757 

1768 

Jeremiah  Day     .     . 

1770 

Samuel  Whittlesey  . 

1807 

1817 

Charles  A.  Boardman 

1818 

1830 

Robert  B.  Campfield 

1831 

1834 

Columbus  Shumway 

1834 

1835 

Merritt  S.  Piatt      . 

1836 

1837 

Benjamin  B.  Parsons 

1839 

1842 

HollisRead  .     .     . 

1845 

1851 

Samuel  F.  Bacon     . 

1851 

1853 

Charles  S.  Smith 

1853 

1855 

Joseph  A.  Saxton    . 

1856 

1857 

Jacob  A.  Strong 

1857 

Henry  Upson     .     . 

1863 

1872 

[ 

'2^ 

^6;] 

1806 


APPENDIX 

WASHINGTON  (NEW  PRESTON)— Continued 

Pastors                                             Called  Dismissed            Died 

Dighton  Moses 

Henry  Lancashire 1877  1882 

Frank  S.  Childs,  D.D.      .     .     .     1884  1888 

George  W.  Davis 1890  1891 

Evan  Evans 1894  1898 

Nicholas  S.  Becker 1900  1901 

Aurelian  H.  Post 1902  1907 

J.  Edward  Hermann   .     .     .     •     1907 


WASHINGTON   (NEW  PRESTON  HILL) 

Levi  S.  Beebe 1854  1855 

John  A.  Hemstead 1855  1856 

Noah  Coe 1856  1857 

William  H.  Whittemore  .     .     .  1859  i860 

George  W.  Coleman    ....  1862  1863 

Lewis  Williams 1867  1869 

John  A.  Woodhull 1869  1872 

Henry  Upson 1873  1877 

Austin  Isham 1878  1888 

George  W.  Davis 1890  1891 

Evan  Evans 1894  1898 

1907 

MINISTERS   RAISED    UP 

John  Clarke  William  Sidney  Smith 

Bennett  B.  Burgess  Gideon  H.  Pond 

Thomas  Knapp  George  Tomlinson 

1:237] 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 


MINISTERS  RAISED   UP  — CONTINUED 


George  Bushnell,  D.D. 

Daniel  Parker 

Samuel  Pond 

George  A.  Calhoun,  D.D. 

Augustus  Smith 

Jeremiah  Day,  D.D.,  LL.D. 

Charles  W.  Camp 

Johnson  L.  Tomlinson 


Elisha  Mitchell 
Lewis  Gunn 
Henry  Calhoun 
Levi  Smith 
Henry  N.  Day,  D.D. 
Benjamin  B.  Smith 
Joseph  Whittlesey 
Samuel  L.  Whittlesey 


WATERTOWN 

Pastors                                             Called 

Dismissed 

Died 

John  Trumbull  ....           .      1739 

1787 

Uriel  Gridley 

•       1784 

1820 

Horace  Hooker  .     . 

1822 

1824 

Darius  O.  Griswold 

1825 

1835 

1841 

William  B.  DeForest 

1835 

1837 

Philo  R.  Hurd    .     . 

1840 

1849 

Chauncey  Goodrich 

1849 

1856 

George  P.  Prudden 

1856 

1861 

Samuel  M.  Freeland 

1862 

1864 

Benjamin  Pearson   . 

1865 

1867 

Stephen  Fenn     . 

1868 

1872 

G.  A.  P.  Gilman     . 

1872 

1876 

Franklin  Tuxbury  . 

1877 

1879 

Charles  P.  Croft     . 

1880 

Benjamin  D.  Conklint 

1881 

1884 

George  N.  Pelton    . 

1886 

1889 

Robert  Pegrum  .     . 

1889 

1900 

William  T.  Holmes 

C 

'2' 

I9OI 

183 

APPENDIX 


MINISTERS   RAISED    UP 


Aaron  Dutton  Stephen  Fenn 

Israel  Beard  Woodward  Jesse  Guernsey 

John  L.  Seymour  Anson  S.  Atwood 

Frederick  Gridley  Henry  DeForest 
Matthew  Rice  Dutton 


WINCHESTER 

Pastors  Called 

Joshua  Knapp 1772 

Publius  Vergilius  Bogue    .     .     .  I790 

Archibald  Bassett 1801 

Thomas  Robbins,  D.D.     .     .     .  1806 

Frederick  Marsh 1808 

James  H.  Dill 1846 

John  Cunningham 1852 

Ira  Pettibone 1857 

William  M.  Gay 1866 

Arthur  Goodenough     ....  1870 


WINCHESTER  (WINSTED,  FIRST) 

Ezra  Woodworth i792  i799 

Aaron  Kinney 1799  1804 

James  Beach 1806  1842  1850 

T.  M.  Dwight 1842  1844 

Augustus  Pomeroy 1844  1845 

Ira  Pettibone 1846  1854 

Henry  A.  Russell 1854  1858 


Dismissed 

Died 

1789 

1816 

1800 

1836 

1806 

1807 

1851 

1873 

1852 

1854 

1865 

1869 

THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 


WINCHESTER  (WINSTED,  FIRST)— Continued 


Pastors 
James  B.  Pierson     .     . 
Malcolm  McG.  Dana 
J.  B.  R.  Walker 
Henry  E.  Cooley 
Thomas  M.  Miles 
Timothy  J.   Lee 
Henry  N.  Kinney 
George  F,  Prentiss 
George  W.  Judson 


Called 

Dismissed 

1859 

1862 

1862 

1865 

1867 

1869 

1869 

1870 

1870 

1879 

1879 

1884 

1884 

1894 

1894 

1898 

1898 

Died 


1908 


WINCHESTER  (WINSTED,  SECOND) 


C.  H.  A.  Buckley  .  . 
Arthur  T.  Pierson,  D.D 
Hiram  Eddy,  D.D.  . 
Charles  Wetherby  .  . 
M.  B.  Angier  .  .  . 
Leavitt  H.  Hallock,  D.D 
Henry  H.  Kelsey  .  . 
Henry  P.  Peck  .  .  . 
J.  Spencer  Voorhees  . 
Newell  M.  Calhoun  . 
Everard  W.  Snow  . 


1854 

1859 

1859 

i860 

I86I 

1865 

1866 

I87I 

I87I 

1873 

1873 

1883 

1884 

1888 

1889 

I89I 

1892 

1896 

1897 

1907 

1908 

MINISTERS    RAISED    UP 


Noble  Everitt 

Abel  McEwen,  D.D. 

Samuel  Rockwell 


Willard  Burr 
Frederick  L.  Grant 
Daniel  E.  Goodwin 


1:2403 


APPENDIX 

MINISTERS  RAISED 

UP— CONTINUED 

Henry  B.  Blake 

Eliphaz 

Piatt 

John  W.  Alvord 

Charles  Rockwell 

Arthur  C.  Dill 

Leuman 

H 

Pease 

Giles  Frederic  Goodenough 

Thomas 

C. 

Richards 

WOODBURY 

Pastors 

Called 

Dismissed 

Died 

Zachariah  Walker  .... 

1668 

1700 

Anthony  Stoddard  .     . 

1702 

1760 

Noah  Benedict    .     .     . 

1760 

1813 

Worthington   Wright 

1811 

1813 

Henry  P.  Strong    .     . 

1814 

1816 

Samuel  R.  Andrews     . 

1817 

1846 

1858 

Lucius  Q.  Curtis     .     . 

1846 

1854 

Robert  G.  Williams    . 

1855 

1859 

Charles  E.  Robinson    . 

1861 

1864 

Charles  Little     .     .     . 

1865 

1867 

Horace  Winslow    .     . 

1868 

1869 

Gurdon  Noyes    . 

1869 

1879 

Joseph  A.  Freeman     . 

1881 

1905 

1906 

Stanley  F.  Blomfield   . 

1905 

1908 

Howard  A.  Seckerson 

1909 

WOODBURY  (NORTH  CHURCH) 


Grove  L.  Brownell     .     .     .     .  181 7  1840 

John  Churchill 1 840  1869 

James  L.  R.  Wyckoff  .     .     .     .  1871  1908 

Charles  E.  Underwood     .     .     .  1909 

[:240 


THE  CLERGY  OF  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 


MINISTERS   RAISED    UP 

Ephraim  Judson  William  P.  Curtis 

Adoniram  Judson,  D.D.  Judson  A.  Root 

Thomas  Miner  Euston  Judson 

Justus  Mitchell  Gould  C.  Judson 

Philo  Judson  William  T.  Bacon 
Samuel  Judson 


[242] 


Date  Due 

■*=^v*n«»^,«a, 

Tf- 

"«*&^Har- 

^^**W*S!Wy,^ 

(f 

PRINTED 

IN  U.  S.  A. 

BW4295.G64 

The  clergy  of  Litchfield  County, 

MIl'rillVlHI  inl'n?!?''"'  Se^'in-vy-Speer  Library 


1    1012  00017  3320 


